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FOUR 

AMERICAN NAVAL HEROES 

Paul Jones Admiral Farragut 

Oliver H. Perry Admiral Dewey 

A BOOK FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 

By MABEL BORTON BEEBE 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JAMES BALDWIN 

9 




WERNER SCHOOL BOOK COMPANY 
NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON 



SECOND COPY. ^'f-l ^ 

52099 

THE 

FOUR GREAT AMERICANS SERIES 

Biographical Stories of Great Americans 
for Young Americans 

EDITED BY 

James Baldwin, Ph.D. 

IN these biographical stories the lives of great Am- 
ericans are presented in such a manner as to hold the 
attention of the youngest reader. In these lives the 
child finds the most inspiring examples of good citizen- 
ship and true patriotism. 

VOLUMES NOW READY: 

I. FOUR GREAT AMERICANS 

George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Daniel 
Webster, Abraham Lincoln. 
By JAMES BALDWIN, Ph.D. 
Cloth, 246 pages / ^ -' Price, 50 cents 

II. FOUR AMERICAN PATRIOTS 

Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew 
Jackson, U. S. Grant. 
By ALMA HOLMAN BURTON 
Author of The Story of Our Country, etc. 
Cloth, 256 pages / ' >■ Price, 50 cents 

III. FOUR AMERICAN NAVAL HEROES 

Paul Jones, Oliver H. Perry, Admiral Farragut, 
Admiral Dewey. 
By MABEL BORTON BEEBE 
Cloth, 254 pages , , , Price, 50 cents 

OTHER VOLUMES IN PREPARATION 



Copyright, 1899. by WERNER SCHOOL BOOK COMPANY 



2S18: 



CONTENTS. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

Introduction ...... 7 

THE STORY OF PAUL JONES 

I. The Little Scotch Lad . . . .17 

IL The Young Sailor ..... 20 

in. The Beginning of the American Revolution 23 

IV. Lieutenant Paul Jones .... 26 

V. The Cruise of the Alfred . . . -29 

VI. Captain Paul Jones ..... 32 

VII. The Cruise of the Ranger . . ' . -35 

VIII. The Ranger and the Drake ... 41 

IX. The Bon Homme Richard . . . -45 

X. The Great Fight with the Serapis . . 49 

XI. Honor to the Hero . . . . -57 

XII. The Return TO America . . . ..61 

XIII. Ambitious Hopes .... -63 

XIV. Sad Disappointments .... 66 



CONTENTS. 
4 

THE STORY OF OLIVER H. PERRY 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. How THE Perry Family Came to Rhode 

Island ...... .75 

II. School Days ...... 79 

HI. Plans for the Future . . . , -85 

IV. The Cruise in the West Indies ... 87 

V. The War with the Barbary States . . 91 

VI. More Trouble with England ... 98 

VII. War on the Canadian Border . . . 103 

VIII. Oliver Perry Builds a Fleet . . . 109 

IX. "We Have Met the Enemy and They are 

Ours" ....... 114 

X. What Perry's Victory Accomplished . 121 

XL On the Mediterranean again . . . 126 

XII. Captain Perry's Last Cruise . . . 130 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT 

I. Childhood ....... 133 

II. The Little Midshipman .... 138 

HI. The Loss of the Essex .... 144 

IV. The Trip on the Mediterranean . . 147 

V. War with the Pirates .... 150 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGE 

VI. From Lieutenant to Captain . . 155^ 

VII. The Question of Allegiance . . . 162 

VIII. The Capture of New Orleans . . 168 

IX. The Battle of Mobile Bay . . . 177 

X. Well-Earned Laurels .... 186 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY 

Forward Causes of the War with Spain 195 

I. The Battle of Manila .... 20T 

II. The Boyhood of George Dewey . . . 207 

III. Dewey as a Naval Cadet .... 210 

IV. From Lieutenant to Commodore . . .212 
V. The American Navy in Cuban Waters . 217 

VI. The Cruise of the Oregon .... 121 

VII. Lieutenant Hobson and the Merrimac . 225 

VIII. The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet . . 230 

IX, The End of the War .... 236 

X. Life on an American Man-of-War . . 242 

XI. Some Facts about the Navy of 1898 . 247 



INTRODUCTION. 




SEAL OF THE 
U. S. NAVY. 



Four times in the history of our country has the American 
navy achieved renown and won the gratitude of the nation. 
These four times correspond, of course, to the four great 
wars that we have had ; and with the 
mention of each the name of a famous 
hero of the sea is at once brought to 
mind. What would the Revolution 
have been without its Paul Jones; or 
the War of 1812, without its Perry? 
How differently might the Civil War 
have ended but for its Farragut ; and 
the Spanish War, but for its Dewey! The story of the 
achievements of these four men covers a large part of our 
naval history. 

Six months after the battle of Lexington the Continental 
Congress decided to raise and equip a fleet to help carry on 
the war against England. Before the end of the year (1775) 
seventeen vessels were ready for service, and it was then 
that Paul Jones began his public career. Many other 
ships were soon added. 

The building and equipping of this first navy was largely 
intrusted to Ezek Hopkins, whom Congress had appointed 
Commander-in-Chief, but it does not seem that he did all 

7 



INTRODUCTION. 




that was expected of him, for within less than two years 

he was dismissed. He was the 
only person who ever held 
the title of Commander-in-Chief 
of the navy. During the war 
several other vessels were added 
to the fleet, and over 800 prizes 
were captured from the Brit- 
ish. But before peace was de- 
clared twenty-four of our ships 
had been taken by the enemy, 
others had been wrecked in 
storms, and nearly all the rest 
were disabled. There was no 

effort to build other vessels, and so, for many years, our 

country had no navy. 
In 1794, when war 

with the Barbary States 

was expected, Congress 

ordered the building of 

six large frigates. One p^V^ 

v\ 
of these was the famous 

Co?istitution, which is 

still in existence and 

THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION, 

about which Dr. Holmes 

wrote the well-known poem called ''Old Ironsides. 



EZEK HOPKINS. 




IN TROD UCTION. 



Through all the earlier years of our history, John Adams 
used his influence to strengthen our power on the sea ; 
and he was so far successful that he has often been called 
''The Father of the American Navy." When the War 
of 1812 began the United States owned a great many 
gunboats for coast defense, besides seventeen sea-going 
vessels. It was during 
this war that the navy 
especially distinguished 
itself, and Oliver Haz- 
ard Perry made his name 
famous. 

The ships of war in 
those earlier times were 
wooden sailing vessels, 
and they were very slow- 
goers when compared 

with the swift cruisers which sail the ocean now. The 
largest of these vessels w^ere called ships of the line, be- 
cause they formed the line of battle in any general fight at 
sea. They usually had three decks, with guns on every 
deck. The upper deck was often covered over, and on the 
open deck thus formed above there was a fourth tier of guns. 
This open deck was called the forecastle and quarter-deck. 
Some of the largest ships of the line carried as many as 
120 guns each ; the smallest was built to carry 72 guns. 




A SLOOP OF WAR. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Next in size to these ships were the frigates. A frigate 
had only one covered deck and the open forecastle and 
quarter-deck above it, and therefore had but two tiers of 
guns. The largest frigate carried sixty guns, besides a 
large pivot gun at the bow. The American frigates were 
noted for their speed. 

Still smaller than the frigates were the corvettes, or 
sloops of war, as they are more commonly called. These 

had but one tier of 
guns, and that was 
on the open deck. 
They were rigged like 
the larger vessels, 
with three masts and 
square sails. 

The fourth class of 
vessels included the 
brigs of war, which 
had but two masts and carried from six to twenty 
guns. Equal to them in size were the schooners, which 
also had two masts, but were rigged fore-and-aft. The 
guns which they carried were commonly much smaller than 
those on the sloops and frigates. 

After Robert Fulton's invention of the steamboat in 1807 
there were many attempts to apply steam on vessels of 
war. But it was a long time before these attempts were 




THE STEAM FRIGATE POWHATAN. 



INTRODUCTION. I I 



very successful. The earliest war steamships were driven 
by paddle-wheels, placed at the sides of the vessels. The 
paddles, besides taking up much valuable space, were ex- 
posed to the shots of the enemy, and in any battle were 
very easily crippled and made useless. But the speed of 
these vessels was much greater than that of any sailing 
ship, and this alone made them very desirable. For many 




THE MERRIMAC AND THE MONITOR. 

years steam frigates were the most formidable vessels in 
the navy. The first successful steamship of war was the 
English frigate Peyielope, which was built in 1843, and car- 
ried forty-six guns. One of the earliest and most noted 
American vessels of the same type was the Powhatan. The 
first screw line of battle ship was built by the French in 1849. 
It was called the Napoleon, and carried one hundred guns. 
It was so successful that steamships soon began to take the 
place of sailing vessels in all the navies of the world. 
Up to this time all war vessels were built of wood ; but 



1 2 INTRODUCTION. 



there had been many experiments to learn whether they 
might not be protected by iron plating. The first iron-clad 
ship was built in France in 1858 ; and not long after that 
Great Britain added to her navy an entire fleet of iron-clads. 
All these were built after the same pattern as wooden ships, 
and were simply covered or protected with iron plates. 

The first iron-clads used in our own navy were built soon 
after the beginning of the Civil War (18(J1), and were de- 
signed for use on the large rivers and along the coast. 

They were called "tur- 
tle-backs," and were 
simply large steamboats 
covered with thick slabs 
of iron and carrying 
thirteen guns each. The 
iron slabs were joined 
closely together and laid in such a manner as to inclose the 
decks with sloping sides and roofs. The first great deviation 
from old patterns was the Monitor, built by John Ericsson 
in 1862. She was the strangest looking craft that had ever 
been seen, and has been likened to a big washtub turned 
upside down and floating on the water. The Merrimac, 
which she defeated in Hampton Roads, was a wooden frig- 
ate which the Confederates had made into an iron-clad 
by covering her with railroad rails. They had also, by 
giving her an iron prow, converted her into a ram. These 




THE BATTLESHIP OREGON, 



INTRODUCTION. 1 3 



two vessels, the Monitor and the Merrimac, were indirectly 
the cause of a great revolution in naval warfare ; they were 
the forerunners of all the modern ships of war now in ex- 
istence. The nations of the world saw at once that there 
would be no more use for ships of the line and wooden 
frigates and sloops of war. 

The ships that have been built since that time are entirely 
unlike those with which Paul Jones and Commodore Perry 
and Admiral Farragut 
won their great victo- 
ries. The largest and 
most formidable of the 
new vessels are known 
as battleships, and may 
be briefly described as 
floating forts, built of 

steel and armed with powerful guns. These are named 
after the states, as the Orcgo?i, the Tcxas^ and the 
Iowa. Next to them in importance are the great monitors, 
such as the Mojiadjiock and the Monterey. These are 
slow sailers but terrible fighters, and are intended chiefly 
for harbor defense. The cruisers, which rank next, are 
smaller than battleships and are not so heavily armed ; 
but they are built for speed, and their swiftness makes up 
for their lack of strength. Among the most noted of these 
are the Brooklyn, the Coln^nbia, and the Minjieapolis. There 




THE DYNAMITE CRUISER VESUVIUS. 



14 



INTROD UCTION. 



are also smaller cruisers, such as the Cincinnati and the 
Raleigh, that are intended rather for scout duty than for serv- 
ice in battle. Most of the cruisers are named after cities. 
One of the strangest vessels in the navy is the dynamite 
cruiser Vesuvius, which is armed with terrible dynamite 
guns. Then there is the ram Katahdiii. She carries no heavy 
guns, and her only weapon of offense is a powerful ram. 
Her speed is greater than that of most battleships, and she 
is protected by a covering of the heaviest steel armor. 
Besides all these there are a number of smaller vessels, 
such as torpedo boats and tugs. 

A few old-fashioned wooden vessels — steam frigates and 
sailing vessels — are still to be found in our navy yards,, but 
these would be of no use in a battle. 

In reading of the exploits of our great naval heroes it is 
well to keep in mind these wonderful changes that have 
taken place in the navy. Think of the slow-going wooden 
frigates which sailed the seas in the time of Paul Jones or 
Commodore Perry — how small and insignificant they would 
be if placed side by side with the tremendous Oregon or 
with the cruisers which Admiral Dewey led to victory in 
the Bay of Manila! But if the glory of an achievement is 
measured by the difficulties that are encountered and 
overcome, to whom shall we award the greater honor — to 
our earlier heroes, or to our later? James Baldwin. 



THE STORY OF 

PAUL JONES 




/ \VMA 




i6 



THE STORY OF PAUL JONES. 



I. — The Little Scotch Lad. 

Many years ago there lived, in the southwestern 
part of Scotland, on the beautiful bay called 
Solway Firth, a gentleman whose name was Mr. 
Craik. In Scotland, a large farm is called an 
estate. Mr. Craik named his estate Arbigland. 

His large house stood high on the shore over- 
looking the sea. The lawn sloped gradually to 
the firth. 

Mr. Craik's gardener, John Paul, lived in a 
cottage on the estate. Mr. Craik was very fond 
of John Paul, for he worked well. He made the 
grounds like a beautiful park, and planted many 
trees, some of which are still standing. 

One day John Paul married Jean Macduff. 
She was the daughter of a neighboring farmer. 
She and John lived very happily in their little 



17 



J g THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. 

cottage. They had seven children. The fifth 
child was a boy, named for his father, John Paul. 
He was born July 6, 1747. 

When little John was large enough to run about 
he liked to play on the beautiful lawn and to 
wander along the shore of the firth. Sometimes 
he would sit still for hours watching the waves. 

Sometimes he and Mr. Craik's little boy would 
play with tiny sailboats and paddle about in the 
water. When they grew tired of this, they would 
climb among the rocks on the mountains which 
were back of the estate. 

When there were storms at sea, vessels would 
come into Solway Firth for a safe harbor. The 
water was very deep near the shore. Because of 
this the ships could come so near the lawn of 
Arbigland that their masts seemed to touch the 
overhanging trees. 

Little John Paul and his playmates liked to 
watch the sailors, and sometimes could even talk 
to them. They heard many wonderful stories of 
a land called America, where grew the tobacco 
that was packed in some of the ships. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. ^ ^ 



The children would often take their little sail- 
boats to some inlet, where they would play sailor. 
John Paul was always the captain. He had list- 
ened carefully to the commands given by the 
captains of the large vessels. These he would 
repeat correctly and with great dignity, though he 
did not always understand them. 

John Paul spent more time in this kind of play 
than in going to school. In those da3^s there were 
few schools, and book-learning was not thought to 
be of much use. At a parish school near by, John 
learned to spell and to repeat the rules of gram- 
mar. 

When he was twelve years old he felt that the 
time had come when he could be a real sailor. So 
his father allowed him to go across the firth to an 
English town called Whitehaven. There he was 
apprenticed to Mr. Younger, a merchant, who 
owned a ship and traded in goods brought from 
foreign lands. 

He soon went to sea in Mr. Younger's vessel, 
the Friendship. This ship was bound for Amer- 
ica to get tobacco from the Virginia fields. 



2Q THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 

II. — The Young Sailor. 

At that time the trip across the Atlantic could 
not be made as quickly as now. There were no 
steamships, and the sailing vessels had, of course, 
to depend upon the wind to carry them to their 
destination. It was several months before the 
Friendship anchored at the mouth of the Rappa- 
hannock River. 

Farther inland, on this river, was the town of 
Fredericksburg. John Paul's eldest brother, Wil- 
liam, lived there. He had left his Scottish home 
many years before, and had come with his wife to 
Virginia. Here he was now living on his own 
plantation, where he raised tobacco for the English 
market. 

While the Friendship was in port being loaded 
for its return voyage, John Paul went to Freder- 
icksburg to stay with his brother. While there 
he spent the most of his time in hard study. 
Although he was still young, he had found that 
he could not succeed as he wished with so little 
education. 

It was during these months in America that he 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 2 I 

formed the habit of study. All through the 
remainder of his life his leisure time was given to 
the reading of books. 

After he returned to Scotland he spent six years 
in the employ of Mr. Younger. During that time 
he learned a great deal about good seamanship. 

When John Paul was nineteen years of age, the 
loss of money compelled Mr. Younger to give up 
his business. 

John Paul was soon afterward made mate on a 
slaver called the Tzvo Frie^ids. This was a vessel 
whose sole business was the carrying of slaves 
from Africa to America and other countries. 

People at that time did not think there was any 
wrong in slave-trading. It was a very profitable 
business. Even the sailors made more money 
than did those on vessels engaged in any other 
business. 

The Two Frie7ids carried a cargo of slaves to 
Jamaica, an English possession in the West Indies. 
As soon as port was reached, John Paul left the 
vessel. He said that he would never again sail on 
a slave-trading voyage. He could not endure to 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



see men and women treated so cruelly, and bought 
and sold like cattle. 

He sailed for home as a passenger on board 
a small trading vessel. On the voyage both the 
captain and the mate died of fever, and the ship 
with all its passengers was in mid-ocean with no 
one to command. 

John Paul took the captain's place, for no one 
else knew so much about seamanship. This was 
a daring thing for one so young, as he was not yet 
twenty years old. 

When he brought the vessel safely into port, 
the owners were so grateful to him that they made 
him the captain. 

Soon afterward he sailed for the West Indies. 
The carpenter on board was, one day, very dis- 
respectful to the young captain. He was pun- 
ished by a flogging, and was discharged. Not 
long after this he died of a fever. 

The enemies of John Paul, who were jealous 
of him, thought this was their chance to do him 
harm. They said that the flogging had killed 
the carpenter. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



Many people believed this, and when John 
Paul again returned to Scotland, he found that 
his friends had lost their faith in him. 

During the next two years he made several 
voyages, but all the while he remembered the in- 
justice done to him. He finally succeeded, how- 
ever, in proving to his friends that he was worthy 
of their confidence. 



III. — The Beginning of the American Revo- 
lution. 

When John Paul visited his brother in Virginia, 
America was not much like what it is now. Most 
of the country was an unexplored wilderness, and 
there was no United States as we know it to-day. 

Some large settlements, known as colonies, had 
been made in that part of the country which lies 
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Alleghany 
Mountains. 

Most of the people who lived in these colonies 
were English, and their governors were appointed 
by the king of England. 



2 A THE STOR V or PA UL JONES. 



Each governor, with the help of a few men 
whom he chose from the people, would make 
laws for the colony. 

Not all the laws were made in this way. Some- 
times the king, without caring for the wishes of 
the colonists, would make laws to suit himself. 

Up to this time the people had been obedient 
and loyal to their king. But when George the 
Third came to the throne of England, he caused 
the people a great deal of trouble. 

He sent orders to the governors that the col- 
onists should trade with no other country than 
his own. 

All their goods should be bought in England, 
and, to pay for them, they must send to the 
same country all the corn, cotton, and tobacco 
which they had to sell. The colonists wished to 
build factories and weave their own cloth, but the 
king would not allow this. 

For a long while England had been at war 
with France. King George said that the colonists 
should help pay the expenses of that war, and 
therefore he began to tax them heavily. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



25 



They were obliged to pay a tax on every pound 
of tea, and stamped paper must be bought for 
every legal document. 

The colonists were much aroused on account 
of the tea tax and the stamp act, as it was called. 

One day startling news came to John Paul in 
Virginia. A shipload of tea had anchored in 
Boston harbor. The colonists declared that they 
would not pay the tax on this tea, and some of 
them, dressed as Indians, had gone on board the 
vessel and thrown it all into the harbor. 

Later on, came the news that the king had sent 
his English soldiers to Boston to keep the people 
quiet. He had also closed the port of Boston 
and said that no more ships should come in or 
go out. This aroused the whole country. Every- 
body felt that something must be done to preserve 
the freedom of the people. 

Each colony chose men as delegates to confer 
together about what was best to be done. The 
delegates met in Philadelphia on the 5th of Sep- 
tember, 1774. That meeting has since been 
called the First Continental Congress of America. 



2 ^ THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 

The delegates of the colonies decided to send a 
petition to the king asking that he would remove 
the taxes and not make unjust laws. 

All winter the people waited for an answer, but 
as none came, matters grew worse in the spring. 

On the 19th of April, 1775, a battle was fought 
with the king's soldiers at Lexington, in Massachu- 
setts. This was the first battle of the American 
Revolution. 



IV. — Paul Jones. 

In the year 1773, soon after the trouble with 
England had begun, John Paul's brother William 
died in Virginia. He left some money and his 
plantation, but had made no will to say who should 
have them. He had no children, and his wife had 
been dead for years. 

His father had died the year before, and John 
was the only one of the family now living who 
could manage the estate. 

So he left the sea and went to live on the farm 
near Fredericksburg, in Virginia. He thought that 



THE STOR y OF PA UL JONES. 2 7 

he would spend the rest of his hfe in the quiet 
country, and never return to the sea. 

He soon learned to love America very dearly, 
even more than he did his own country. He 
wanted to see the colonists win in their struggle for 
their rights. 

But so good a sailor could not be a good farmer. 
In two years the farm was in a bad condition and 
all the money left by his brother had been spent. 
The agents in Scotland, with whom John Paul 
had left money for the care of his mother and sis- 
ters, had proved to be dishonest, and this money 
also had been lost. 

In the midst of these perplexities, he decided to 
serve America in the war which every one saw was 
now inevitable. 

Another congress of delegates from the colonies 
met in 1775, and made preparations for that war. 
The colonists were organized into an army, with 
George Washington as the commander in chief. 

A fleet of English vessels had been sent across 
the Atlantic. The swiftest of these sailed up and 
down the Atlantic coast, forcing the people in the 



8 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



towns to give provisions to the king's sailors and 
soldiers. Other vessels were constantly coming 
over, loaded with arms and ammunition for the 
English soldiers. 

George Washington's army was almost without 
ammunition. There was 
very little gunpowder made 
in this country at that 
time, and the need of it 
was very great. 

It was thought that the 
best way to supply the 
American army with am- 
munition was to capture 
the English vessels. It was 
for this purpose that the first American navy was 
organized. 

The first navy yard was established at Plym- 
outh. Here a few schooners and merchant ves- 
sels were equipped with cannon as warships. 
These were manned by bold, brave men, who, 
since boyhood, had been on the sea in fishing or 
trading vessels. 




THE S TOR V OF PA UL JONES. 2 Q 



No member of the Continental Congress did 
more to strengthen and enlarge this first navy than 
John Adams. 

In 1775 John Paul settled up his affairs, left the 
Virginia farm, and went to Philadelphia to offer his 
services to the naval committee of Congress. 

He gave his name as John Paul Jones. Just 
why he did this, we do not know. Perhaps he did 
not wish his friends in Scotland to know that he 
had taken up arms against his native country. 

Perhaps he thought that, should he ever be 
captured by the English, it would go harder with 
him if they should know his Enghsh name. We 
cannot tell. Hereafter we shall call him Paul 
Jones, as this is the name by which he was known 
during the rest of his life. 

Congress accepted his offer and he was made 
first Heutenant on the Alfred, a flag-ship. 



V. — The Cruise of the Alfred. 
The young lieutenant was now twenty-nine 
years old. His health was excellent and he could 



^ ^ THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. 



endure great fatigue. His figure was light, grace- 
ful, and active. His face was stern and his man- 
ner was soldierly. He was a fine seaman and 
familiar with armed vessels. 

He knew that the men placed above him in 
the navy had had less experience than he. But 
he took the position given him 
without complaint. 

When the commander of the 
Alfred came on board, Paul Jones 
hoisted the American flag. This 
was the first time a flag of our 

THE PINE TREE FLAG- 

own had ever been raised. 

We do not know just what this flag was like, 
but some of the earhest naval flags bore the 
picture of a pine tree; others had a rattlesnake 
stretched across the stripes, and the words, ''Don't 
tread on me. " Our present flag was not adopted 
until two years later. 

On the 17th of February, 1776, the first Ameri- 
can squadron sailed for the Bahama Islands. 

On the way, two British sloops were captured. 
The Enoiish sailors told the Americans that on the 




THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. 



island of New Providence were forts, which con- 
tained a large amount of military supplies. They 
said that these forts could easily be taken. 

The soldiers on a vessel are called marines. 
A plan was made to hide the American marines 
in the British sloops. In that way it was thought 
they could go safely into the harbor of New 
Providence. Then they could land 
and take possession of the forts. 

This plan would have been 
successful, but for one foolish mis- 
take. The squadron sailed so 
close to the harbor during the ^^p- rattlesxake 

^ FLAG. 

night that in the morning all the 
ships could be seen from the shore. The war ves- 
sels should have remained out of sight until the 
marines had been safely landed from the sloops. 
The alarm was spread, and the sloops were not 
allowed to cross the bar. 

The commander of the squadron then planned 
to land on the opposite side of the island and 
take the forts from the rear, but Paul Jones 
told him he could not do this. There was no 




^ 2 THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



place to anchor the squadron, and no road to the 
forts. 

However, he had learned from the pilots of a 
good landing nor far from the harbor. When he 
told the commander of this, he was only rebuked 
for confiding in pilots. 

So Paul Jones undertook, alone, to conduct the 
Alfred to the landing he had found. He suc- 
ceeded in doing this and the whole squadron 
afterwards followed. 

The English soldiers abandoned the forts, and 
the squadron sailed away the same day, carrying 
a hundred cannon and other military stores. 



VI. — Captain Paul Jones. 

A short time after this, the American squadron 
tried to capture a British ship called the Glasgow, 
The attempt was not successful. 

Because of this failure, one of the captains was 
dismissed from the navy, and the command of his 
vessel was given to Lieutenant Jones. This vessel 
was named the Providence. 



THE STOR y OF PA UL JONES. ^ ^ 

With it and the Alfred, which he also com- 
manded, Captain Jones captured sixteen prizes in 
six weeks. Among them were cargoes of coal and 
dry goods. 

Best of all, he captured an English vessel bound 
for Canada, full of warm clothing for the British 
soldiers. This was a prize that proved of great 
value to General Washington's poorly clothed 
army. 

In those days there were selfish people just as 
now. In January, 1777, a jealous commodore 
succeeded in depriving Paul Jones of his position 
as captain. He was now without ship or rank. 
When he appealed to Congress he was put off with 
promises from time to time. It was not until May 
that his petitions were heard. 

There were three new ships being built for the 
navy at Boston. Congress gave him permission 
to choose one of these and have it fitted out as he 
wished. 

While waiting in Boston for these ships to be 
finished, Paul Jones wrote many wise suggestions 
about the management of the navy. Congress at 



34 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



first paid but little attention to these suggestions, 
but was afterwards glad to act upon them. 
These were some of the things he said: 
''I. Every officer should be examined before 
he receives his commission. 

*' 2. The ranks in a navy 
should correspond to those 
in an army. 

"3. As England has the 
best navy in the world, we 
should copy hers. " 

Before the ship he had 
chosen was completed, he 
was ordered to wait no 
longer in Boston, but to 
take the Rajiger, an old 
vessel, and sail at once for France. Through the 
efforts of Benjamin Franklin, the American Min- 
ister to France, the French king had acknowledged 
the independence of the colonies, and was ready 
to aid the Americans in the war. 

Paul Jones was to carry a letter from Congress 
to the American commissioners in Paris. 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. ^ r 



This letter told the commissioners to buy a new 
fast-sailing frigate for Captain Jones, and to have 
it fitted up as he desired. They were then to 
advise him as to what he should do with it. 



VII. — The Cruise of the Ranger. 

When the Ranger sailed out of Boston harbor, 
the stars and stripes of the American republic 
waved from the mast head. 

Paul Jones was the first naval officer to raise 
this flag. You remember that two years before, 
on the Alfred, he had first hoisted the pine tree 
emblem. 

When he reached Quiberon Bay, in France, the 
admiral of the French fleet there saluted the 
American flag. This was the first time that a for- 
eign country had recognized America as an inde- 
pendent nation. 

Paul Jones anchored the Ranger at Brest and 
went to Paris to deliver his letter, and lay his plans 
before the commissioners. He told them two 
important things: 



36 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



First, that our navy was too small to win in 
open battle with the fleets of the English. 

Second, that the way to keep the English ves- 
sels from burning, destroying, and carrying away 
property on the American coasts, was to send 
vessels to the English coasts to annoy the English 
in the same way. 

The commissioners thought that these plans 
should be carried out at once; and since a new 
frigate could not be purchased for some time, they 
refitted the Ranger for his use. 

On April lo, 1778, Paul Jones set out on what 
proved to be a memorable cruise. 

You remember that when he first went to sea, 
as a boy, he sailed from Whitehaven. This town 
is on the English coast, just across the Solway 
Firth from John Paul's old home. 

He knew there were large shipping yards there, 
and he determined to set fire to them. He 
planned to reach the harbor in the night, and burn 
the ships while the people were asleep. 

Because of the wind and tides, it was nearly 
midnight when he arrived. He found three 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



37 



hundred vessels of different kinds lying in the 
harbor. His men were put into two small boats, 
and each boat was ordered to set fire to half the 
ships. 

It was nearly daylight when they rowed away 
from the Rajiger. Nothing could be heard but the 
splashing of their oars. Their flickering torches 
showed to them the old sleeping town, with the 
many white ships along the shore. 

Leaving orders that the fire be speedily kindled, 
Captain Jones took with him a few men, and scaled 
the walls of the batteries which protected the 
harbor. He locked the sleeping sentinels in the 
guardhouse and spiked the cannon. 

Then, sending his men back to the harbor, he 
went, with one man only, to another fort, which 
was a quarter of a mile away. Here he also 
spiked the guns. 

After all this had been done he returned to his 
boats to find that his sailors had done nothing. 
Not one ship was on fire! 

The lieutenant in charge told Paul Jones that 
their torches had gone out. ' ' Anyway, " he said. 



THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. 



"nothing can be gained by burning poor people's 
property. " 

Determined that they should not leave the har- 
bor until something was destroyed, Paul Jones ran 
to a neighboring house and got a light. With this 
he set fire to the largest ship. 

By this time the people had been aroused, and 
hundreds were running to the shore. 

There was no time to do more. The sailors 
hastened back to the Rangei^, taking with them 
three prisoners, whom Paul Jones said he would 
show as ' * samples. " 

The soldiers tried to shoot the sailors from the 
forts; but they could do nothing with the spiked 
guns. The sailors amused themselves by firing 
back pistol shots. 

On reaching the ship they found that a man was 
missing. Paul Jones was afraid that harm had 
befallen him. He need not have been troubled, 
however, for the man was a deserter. He spread 
the alarm for miles along the shore. The people 
afterward called him the * ' Savior of Whitehaven. " 

Paul Jones was greatly disappointed by the fail- 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



ure of his plans. He knew that if he had reached 
the harbor a few hours earher he could have 
burned, not only all the ships, but the entire town. 

Although the plan to destroy English property 
to aid the American cause, was a wise one, from 
a military point of view, yet we cannot understand 
why Paul Jones should have selected Whitehaven 
for this destruction. There he had received kind- 
ness and employment when a boy. His mother 
and sisters lived just across the bay, and had he 
succeeded in burning Whitehaven, the people, in 
their anger, might have injured the family of the 
man who had so cruelly harmed them. We won- 
der if he thought of these things. 

The Earl of Selkirk lived near Whitehaven, on 
St. Mary's Isle. As the Ranger sailed by this 
island, Paul Jones thought it would be well to take 
the earl prisoner. 

There were many Americans held as prisoners, 
by the English, and the earl could be exchanged 
for some of these. 

So, with a few men, Paul Jones rowed to the 
shore, where some fishermen told him that the earl 



40 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



was away from home. Paul Jones started to go 
back to his vessel. But his sailors were disap- 
pointed and asked his permission to go to the 
earl's house and take away the silver. 

Paul Jones did not like this plan, but at last con- 
sented. He did not go 
with the men, how- 
ever, but walked up 
and down the shore 
until they returned. 

The sailors found 
Lady Selkirk and her 
family at breakfast. 
They took all the sil- 
ver from the table, 
put it into a bag, and 
returned to the ship. 
Paul Jones was al- 
ways troubled about this. He afterwards bought 
the silver for a large sum of money, and sent it 
back to Lady Selkirk with a letter of apology. 

The people in the neighborhood were frightened 
when they heard of the earl's silver being taken. 




MAP OF THE IRISH SEA, SHOWING 
THE CRUISE OF THE RANGER. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



They ran here and there, hiding their valuables. 
Some of them dragged a cannon to the shore, 
and spent a night firing at what they supposed 
in the darkness to be Paul Jones' vessel. In the 
morning they found they had wasted all their 
powder on a rock! 

The next day the alarm was carried to all the 
towns along the shore: "Beware of Paul Jones, the 
pirate!" 



VIII. — The Ranger and the Drake. 

An English naval vessel called the Drake was 
sent out to capture the Ranger. Every one felt 
sure that she would be successful, and five boat- 
loads of men went out with her to see the fight. 

When the Drake came alongside of the Ranger, 
she hailed and asked what ship it was. Paul Jones 
replied: "The American Continental ^\{v^ Ranger! 
Come on! We are waiting for you!" 

After a battle of one hour, the Drake surren- 
dered. The captain and forty-two men had been 
killed, and the vessel was badly injured. Paul 



42 



THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. 



Jones lost only his lieutenant and one seaman. 
Six others were wounded, one of whom died. 

This was a great victory for Paul Jones. The 
Drake not only mounted two more guns than the 




THE "RANGER AND THE "DRAKE. 



Ra7tger, but was manned by a crew that was much 
better drilled. The vessel belonged to the well- 
established English navy, which was accustomed 
to victory on the seas. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. . ^ 



Towing the Drake, Paul Jones sailed northward 
in safety. Then, leaving the Irish Sea, he sailed 
around the north coast of Ireland and returned to 
the harbor at Brest, with the Drake and two hun- 
dred prisoners. This was just a month from the 
day he had set out on his cruise. 

The French government had now concluded an 
alliance with the American republic. War had 
been openly declared between France and Eng- 
land, and all the French people rejoiced over the 
victory of the Ranger. 

Paul Jones was not sorry when Congress sent 
him an order to bring his vessel to America. It 
was needed to protect the coasts of New Jersey 
from the war ships of the British. 

The French king did not like brave Paul Jones to 
return to America. He wished him to remain 
where he could be of more direct service to 
France. He therefore caused letters to be sent to 
him, promising that if he would stay on that side 
of the Atlantic he should have command of the new 
frigate he had wished for so long. 

Pleased with the prospect of this, he gave up 



. . THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 

44 



the command of the Rangei', and it sailed to 
America under a new captain. 

But promises are often more easily made than 
kept. The French navy was well supplied with 
ships and ofBcers. These officers were jealous 
of the success of Paul Jones, and did all they 
could to prevent him from obtaining his commis- 
sion. 

The summer and most of the winter of 1778 
passed away, and Paul Jones was still waiting for 
his ship. He began to wish he had gone to 
America. 

Some wealthy men offered him a ship if he 
would take charge of a trading expedition for them. 
To do this, he must give up his commission in the 
American navy, and so Paul Jones said, "As a 
servant of the republic of America, I cannot serve 
either myself or my best friends, unless the honor 
of America is the first object." 

During these months of waiting, his only weapon 
was his pen. He wrote letters of appeal to all 
persons of influence, to Congress, and also to the 
kins of France. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



45 




X. — The Bon Homme Richard. I 
One day, when Paul Jones was reading * ' Poor 
Richard's Almanac," written by Dr. Franklin, he 
found a paragraph which set him to thinking. It 
was : ^' If yott would have your business done, go.; 

if not, SEND." 

He sent no more letters, but went at once to the 
French court and pleaded his case there in person. 
As a result, he was soon after made commander 
of a vessel which he named the Bon Homme Rich- 
ard, which means Poor Richard. He did this out 
of gratitude to Dr. Franklin. 



46 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



The Bon Homme Richard was an old trading 
vessel, poorly fitted out for war. But after his long 
months of waiting, Paul Jones was thankful even 
for this. 

He was also given command of four smaller ves- 
sels. One of these, the Alliance, had, for captain, 
a Frenchman named Pierre Landais, who was 

afterwards the cause of 
much trouble. Paul Jones 
was ordered to cruise with 
his small squadron along 
the west coast of Ireland 
and to capture all the Eng- 
lish merchant vessels he 
could find. 

The officer next in com- 
mand to Paul Jones was 
Lieutenant Richard Dale, 
who has since been remembered not only for his 
bravery during that famous cruise, but for his serv- 
ice to the country at a later period. 

On the 14th of August, 1779, the ships put to 
sea. When they reach ed the southern point of Ire- 




RICHARD DALE. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. . ^ 



land, one of the four small vessels was left behind 
and deserted. 

Cruising northward, the squadron soon cap- 
tured two valuable prizes. Without asking the 
permission of Paul Jones, Captain Landais sent 
these captured vessels to Norway. 

On the way, they were taken by the Danes, who 
returned them to England. The value of these 
prizes, thus lost through Captain Landais, was 
about ^40,000, or nearly 1 2 00, 000. 

The squadron sailed round the north of Scot- 
land, and down the eastern coast until it came to 
the Firth of Forth. Here was the town of Leith, 
and in its harbor lay some English war vessels. 

Paul Jones wished to capture these. The winds 
were favorable, and a landing could easily have 
been made but for Captain Landais. 

Paul Jones spent a whole night persuading 
this troublesome captain to help him. It was 
only with a promise of money that he at last 
succeeded. But in the morning the winds were 
contrary. 

That day the RicJiard captured an English 



48 



THE STORY OF PA UL JONES. 



merchant ship. The captain promised Paul Jones 
that if he would allow his vessel to go free, he 
would pilot the squadron into the harbor. 

The people, seeing the fleet piloted by the 
English vessel, supposed the visit to be a friendly 
one. So they sent a boat out to the Richard^ 
asking for powder and shot to defend the town 
from the visit of ''Paul Jones the pirate." 

Jones sent back a barrel of powder with the mes- 
sage that he had no suitable shot. It was not until 
the vessels were nearing the harbor that the object 
of the visit was suspected. The people, in their 
fright, ran to the house of the minister. He had 
helped them when in trouble at other times, and 
could surely do something now. 

The good man, with his flock following him, ran 
to the beach, where he made a strange prayer. 

He told the Lord that the people there were 
very poor, and that the wind was bringing to the 
shore that 'Wile pirate," Paul Jones, who would 
burn their houses and take away even their clothes. 
"I canna think of it! I canna think of it! I 
have long been a faithful servant to ye, O Lord. 



THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. . q 

But gin ye dinna turn the wind aboot and blaw 
the scoundrel out of our gates, I'll nae stir a 
foot, but will just sit here till the tide comes in." 

Just then a violent gale sprang up, and by the 
time it had abated the squadron had been driven 
so far out to sea that the plan was given up. 

Long afterward, the good minister would often 
say, '*I prayed, but the Lord sent the wind." 



X. — The Great Fight with the Serapis. 

Paul Jones next cruised up and down the eastern 
coast of England, trying to capture some merchant 
ships that were bound for London. 

About noon, on September 23, 1779, he saw not 
far from the shore an English fleet, sailing from 
the north. It was convoyed by two new war ships, 
the Serapis and the Countess of Scarboroicgh. 

Paul Jones at once signaled to his ships to form 
in line of battle. Captain Landais disobeyed. 

The sight of the American squadron seemed to 
cause confusion in the English fleet. They let fly 



r Q THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



their top gallant sails and fired many signals. The 
Serapis and the Countess drew up in line of battle 
and waited for the enemy, while the merchant ships 
ran into port. 

It was a clear, calm afternoon. The sea was 
like a polished mirror, with scarcely a ripple on its 
surface. 

The vessels approached each other so slowly 
that they scarcely seemed to move. The decks 
had all been cleared for action, and the captains 
were full of impatience. 

Word had gone from town to town along the 
shore, that a great battle was soon to be fought. 
The people along the shore gathered on the high 
cliffs, eagerly hoping to see the dreaded Paul 
Jones crushed forever. 

The sun had gone down behind the hills before 
the ships were within speaking distance of each 
other. The harvest moon came up, full and clear, 
and shed a soft light over the dreadful battle 
that followed. 

Captain Landais, when he disobeyed Paul 
Jones' order to join in line of battle, spread the 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. ^ j 



sails of the Alliance, and went quickly toward 
the enemy as though to make an attack. But 
when very near to where the Sei^apis lay, he 
changed his course, and sailed away to a place 
where the battle could be seen without harm. 

About half-past seven in the evening, the 
Richai^d rounded to on the side of the Se^^apis 
withm pistol-shot. 

Captain Pearson of the Serapis hailed, saying: 
"What ship is that?" The answer came: ''I 
can't hear what you say. " 

Captain Pearson repeated: "What ship is that? 
Answer at once or I shall fire. " 

Paul Jones' reply was a shot. This was fol- 
lowed by a broadside from each vessel. 

At this first fire, two of the guns in the lower 
battery of the Richard burst. The explosion tore 
up the decks, and killed many men. 

The two vessels now began pouring broadsides 
into each other. The Richard was old and rot- 
ten, and these shots caused her to leak badly. 
Captain Pearson saw this, and hailed, saying, 
"Has your ship struck?" 



- THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



The bold reply came: *' I have not yet begun to 

fight." 

Paul Jones saw, that, as the Serapis was so 
much the better ship of the two, his only hope lay 
in getting the vessels so close together that the 
men could board the Serapis from the Richard. 

All this time the vessels had been sailing in the 
same direction, crossing and re-crossing each 
other's course. 

Finally Paul Jones ran the Richard across the 
bow of the Serapis. The anchor of the Serapis 
caught in the stern of the Richard and became 
firmly fastened there. As the vessels were swung 
around by the tide, the sides came together. The 
spars and rigging were entangled and remained 
so until the close of the engagement. 

With the muzzles of the guns almost touching, 
the firing began. The effect was terrible. 

Paul Jones, who had only two guns that could 
be used on the starboard side, grappled with the 
Serapis. With the help of a few men, he brought 
over a larboard gun, and these three were all that 
he used during the rest of the battle. 



the stor y of pa ul jones. - ^ 

5j 



Meanwhile the other ships of the American 
squadron did strange things. The Pallas y alone, 
did her duty. In a half hour she had captured the 
Cotintess of Scarborough. The Vengea^ice simply 
sailed for the nearest harbor. 

Worst of all was the conduct of Captain Lan- 
dais and his ship Alliance. For a while he looked 
quietly on as though he were umpire. At 9:30 
o'clock he came along the larboard side of the 
Richard so that she was between him and the 
enemy. Then he deliberately fired into her, 
killing many men. 

Many voices cried out that he was firing into the 
wrong ship. He seemed not to hear, for, until 
the battle was over, his firing continued. The 
Poor Richard had an enemy on each side. 

Paul Jones sent some men up the masts and 
into the rigging to throw hand-grenades, or bombs, 
among the enemy. One of these set fire to some 
cartridges on the deck of the Serapis. This 
caused a terrible explosion, disabling all the men 
at the guns in that part of the ship. Twenty of 
them were killed outright. 



C . THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



By this time so much water had leaked into the 
Richard that she was settHng. A sailor, seeing 
this, set up the cry: ''Quarter! quarter! Our 
ship is sinking!" 

Captain Pearson, hearing the cry, sent his men to 
board the Richard. Paul Jones, with a pike in his 
hand, headed a party of his men similarly armed, 
and drove the English back. 

Some of the Richard's men ran below and set 
the prisoners free. There were more than a 
hundred of them. 

One of these prisoners climbed through the port 
holes into the Serapis. He told Captain Pearson 
that if he would hold out a little longer, the 
Richard would either sink or strike. 

Poor Paul Jones was now in a hard place. His 
ship was sinking. More than a hundred prisoners 
were running about the decks, and they, with the 
crew, were shouting for quarter. His own ship, 
the Alliance, was hurling shots at him from the 
other side. Everywhere was confusion. 

But he, alone, was undismayed. He shouted 
to the prisoners to go below to the pumps or they 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



55 



would be quickly drowned. He ordered the crew 
to their places. He himself never left the three 
guns that could still be fired. 

At half-past ten o'clock, the Scrapis surrendered. 

When Captain Pearson gave his sword to Paul 




THE "SERAPIS" AND THE ''BON HOMME RICHARD." 

Jones, he said it was very hard to surrender to a 
man who had fought ' ' with a halter around his 
neck." Paul Jones replied, "Sir! You have 
fought like a hero. I hope your king will reward you. " 
This battle had lasted for three hours and a half. 



56 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



It has since been known in history as one of the 
greatest victories ever won upon the seas. The 
Serapis and the Countess were both new ships, 
one of forty guns and the other of twenty. The 
crews were well-drilled Englishmen. 

Everything was against the Richard, and the 
victory was due alone to the great courage and 
will of its commander. When the light was over, 
Paul Jones separated the ships and set the sails of 
the Richard. All night every sailor was busy 
lighting the lire which raged on both ships. 

When daylight showed to Captain Pearson the 
wreck of the Richard, he was sorry he had sur- 
rendered. Her rudder was gone and her rotten 
timbers were split into pieces. Some of the shots 
had passed entirely through her. 

Paul Jones wished to take her into port to show 
how desperately he had fought, but this was out of 
the question. By nine o'clock the sailors aban- 
doned her, and at ten she suddenly went down. 

Repairing the Serapis as best he could, Paul 
Jones took her and the Coimtess of Scarboroughy 
with his unfaithful fleet, to Holland. 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. r - 



XI. — Honor to the Hero. 

After this great victory, Paul Jones was every- 
where received as a hero. The king of France 
presented him with a gold sword. 

He also sent word, through his minister, that, 
with the consent of Congress, he would make Paul 
Jones a Knight of the Order of Military Merit. To 
avoid delay, the gold cross of the order had been 
sent to the French minister in America, who would 
present it to Paul Jones when permission to accept 
it had been received from Congress. 

The hero traveled about in Holland and 
France, from city to city, enjoying his great 
triumph. Crowds of people were everywhere 
eager to see him, and a word with him was 
thought to be a great honor. 

The most serious fault in the character of Paul 
Jones was his vanity. He had always been very 
fond of praise and glory, and now his longings 
were partly satisfied by all this homage. 

Dr. Franklin wrote him a letter, praising him 
for his bravery. He thanked him, most of all, 
for the prisoners he had captured. There were 



58 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



SO many of them that, by exchange, every Ameri- 
can, held by the Enghsh, could be set at liberty. 

While Paul Jones was enjoying this praise, 
Captain Landais was going about also, claiming 
for himself the glory for the capture of the Serapis, 
and trying to make people believe that he was 
the real hero. 

When Dr. Franklin heard from the sailors 
how he had fired upon the Richard, he ordered 
him to Paris to be tried. 

During the next year, Paul Jones made a few 
short cruises, but accomplished nothing more than 
the taking of a few prizes. 

At this time the army of George Washington 
was sorely in need of clothing and military sup- 
plies. Word was sent to Dr. Franklin to buy 
them in France and send them to America by 
Paul Jones. 

Fifteen thousand muskets, with powder, and 
one hundred and twenty bales of cloth, were 
bought and stored in the Alliance and the Ariel. 
Dr. Franklin told Paul Jones to sail with these 
goods at once. This was early in the year 1780. 



THE STOR V OP PA UL JONES. ^ q 



The summer came and passed away, and the 
ships were still anchored in the French harbor. 
Paul Jones gave excuse after excuse until the 
patience of Dr. Franklin was about gone. 

Captain Landais had been one cause of the delay. 
Instead of going to Paris for trial, as Frankhn 
had ordered, he had gone back to the Alliance 
to stir up mutiny against Paul Jones. He caused 
one trouble after another and disobeyed every 
order. Finally, by intrigue, he took command 
of the Alliance and sailed to America. 

But Captain Landais never again troubled Paul 
Jones. His reception in America was not what 
he had expected. Instead of being regarded as 
a hero, he was judged insane, and dismissed from 
the navy. A small share of prize money was 
afterward paid to him. On this he lived until 
eighty-seven years of age, when he died in Brook- 
lyn, New York. 

Another reason Paul Jones gave for his delay 
in France was that he wished to get the prize 
money due for the capture of the Serapis, and 
pay the sailors. This gave him an excuse to 



^Q THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 

linger about the courts where he could receive 
more of the homage he loved so well. 

Then, too, he spent much time in getting let- 
ters and certificates of his bravery from the king 
and the ministers. He wished to show these to 
Congress when he should arrive in America. 

Finally, one day in October, he set sail in the 
Ariel. He had not gone far when a furious gale 
forced him to return to port for safety. 

For three months longer he waited, hoping still 
for the prize money that was due. One day he 
gave a grand fete on his ship. Flags floated from 
every mast. Pink silk curtains hung from awn- 
ings to the decks. These were decorated with 
mirrors, pictures, and flowers. 

The company invited were men and women of 
high rank. When all was ready, Paul Jones sent 
his boats ashore to bring them on board. 

He, himself, dressed in full uniform, received 
them and conducted them to their seats on the 
deck. At three o'clock they sat down to an 
elaborate dinner which lasted until sunset. 

At eight o'clock, as the moon rose, a mock 



THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. ^ j 

battle of the Richard and the Serapis was given. 
There was much noise from the firing of guns, 
and a great blaze of light from the rockets that 
were sent up. The effect was beautiful, but the 
din was such that the ladies were frightened. At 
the end of an hour this display was ende d. 

After a dance on the deck, the officers rowed 
the company back to the shore. 



XII. — The Return to America. 

On the 1 8th of December, 1780, nearly a year 
after he had received his orders, Jones sailed for 
America. He arrived in Philadelphia on Feb- 
ruary 1 8th, 1 78 1. When Congress inquired into 
the cause of his long delay, he gave explanations 
which seemed to be satisfactory. Resolutions of 
thanks were passed, and permission given to the 
French minister to present the Cross of Military 
Merit, which had been sent by the French king. 

This cross was presented with great ceremony, 
and it was ever after a source of much pride to 



^ 2 '^HE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 

Paul Jones. He wore it upon all occasions and 
loved to be called Chevalier. 

During the following year Paul Jones superin- 
tended the construction of a new war ship, the 
America, which was being built by Congress. 

This was the largest seventy-four gun ship in 
the world, and he was to be her captain. 

Once more Paul Jones was disappointed. Be- 
fore the America was finished. Congress decided 
to give her to France. She was to replace a 
French vessel, which had been lost while in the 
American service. 

Paul Jones was again without a ship. As he 
could not bear to be idle, he spent the time until 
the close of the war, with a French fleet, cruis- 
ing among the West Indies. 

As soon as he heard that peace was declared 
between England and America, he left the French 
fleet and returned to America. He arrived in 
Philadelphia in May, 1783. 

Now that the war was over, and there was no 
more fighting to be done, Paul Jones thought 
that the best thing for him to do was to get the 



THE STORY OF PA UL JONES. 



prize money still due from the French govern- 
ment for the vessels he had captured. 

For this purpose, he soon returned to France. 
After many delays the money, amounting to nearly 
$30,000, was paid to him. It was to be divided 
among the officers and crews of the ships which 
he had commanded. 

Paul Jones came again to America in 1787 to 
attend to the final division of this money. 




While in this country, Congress ordered a gold 
medal to be presented to him for his services dur- 



ing the war. 



XIII. — Ambitious Hopes. 
You remember that, during the war, Captain 
Landais had sent two valuable ships to Norway, 
and so caused the loss of much prize money. 



64 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



Denmark had taken these ships, by force, and 
given them back to England. 

Paul Jones determined to go to Denmark to try 
to induce that country to pay for these ships. In 
November, 1787, he left America for the last 
time. 

On the way to Denmark, he stopped in Paris. 
Here he heard some news which pleased him very 
much. 

For some time Russia had been at war with 
Turkey, and the Russian navy had lately met 
with several disasters on the Black Sea. 

The Russian minister in Paris had heard a great 
deal about the hero, Paul Jones. So he sent 
word to the Empress Catherine, who was then 
the ruler of Russia, that if she would give Paul 
Jones the command of the Russian fleet, ''all 
Constantinople would tremble in less than a year." 

When Paul Jones heard that this message had 
gone to Russia, he was sure that a chance would 
come to win still more glory and fame. 

He was more anxious than before to go to 
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. He would 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



65 



then be nearer to Russia and could more quickly 
answer the summons of the empress. 

He was not disappointed in this. He was in 
Copenhagen but a few weeks, when he received 
the offer of a position in the Russian navy, with 
the rank of rear-admiral. 

He gave up the hope of the prize money, and 
started in April, 1788, for St. Petersburg. 

The story of his trip to Russia shows what a 
fearless man he was. No danger was too great 
for him to brave, in order to accomplish any pur- 
pose he had in mind. 

In order to reach St. Petersburg with the least 
delay, he went to Stockholm, Sweden. Here he 
took an open boat and crossed the Baltic Sea, 
which was full of floating ice. 

He did not let the boatmen know of his inten- 
tions until they were well out at sea. Then, 
pistol in hand, he compelled the unwilling men to 
steer for the Russian shore. 

For four days and nights they were out in the 
open boats, carefully steering through the ice, and 
many times barely escaping death. 



^^ THE STOR V OF PA UL JONES. 

When, at last, they arrived safely at a Russian 
port on the Gulf of Finland, he rewarded the 
boatmen and gave them a new boat and provisions 
for their return. Scarcely would any one believe 
the story, as such a trip had never been made 
before, and was thought to be impossible. 

He hurried on to St. Petersburg, where he was 
warmly welcomed. The story of his trip across 
the Baltic, added to other tales of his bravery, 
caused the empress to show him many favors. 



XIV. — Sad Disappointments. 

After a few days in St. Petersburg, Paul Jones 
hurried on to the Black Sea to take command of 
his fleet. But he again met with disappointments. 
He was not given the command of the whole fleet, 
as he had expected. Instead, he was given only 
half. Prince Nassau commanding the remainder. 
Both of these men were under a still higher 
authority, Prince Potemkin. 

Potemkin was as fond of glory as was Paul 



THE STORY OF PA UL JONES. 



67 



Jones. He and Nassau were both jealous of the 
foreigner, and Potemkin finally succeeded in 
having Paul Jones recalled to St. Petersburg. 

He arrived there, full of sorrow, because he had 
achieved no fame. More trouble was in store for 
him. Some jealous conspirators so blackened 
his character that the empress would not allow 
him to appear at court. 

Even after proving his innocence to the satisfac- 
tion of the empress, he could not regain his 
former position. 

About this time his health began to fail. Sick, 
both in body and mind, he went back to Paris in 
1790, having been in Russia about eighteen 
months. 

It was nearly a year afterward, before he gave 
up all hope of regaining a position in the Russian 
service. When the empress refused him this, he 
quietly waited for death. 

This occurred on the i8th of July, 1792, in his 
lodgings in Paris. His pride and love of titles had 
left him. He told his friends that he wished no 
longer to be called Admiral or Chevalier. 



68 



THE STOR Y OF PA UL JONES. 



He wished to be simply a ' ' citizen of the 
United States." 

The National Assembly of France decreed him 
a public funeral, and many of the greatest men of 
the time followed his body to the tomb. The 
place of his burial has been forgotten. / -:. kj: - '^ 

The most enduring monument to his memory is ' ' 
to be found in the grateful recollections of his \ 
countrymen. The name of Paul Jones, the first ' 
naval hero of America, will not be forgotten so 
long as the stars and stripes float over the sea. 



THE STORY OF 

OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY 



I. — How THE Perry Family Came to Rhode 
Island. 

A very long time ago, there lived in England a 
young Quaker whose name was Edmund Perry. 

At that time the Quakers were much persecuted. 
They were a quiet and peace-loving people, and 
would not serve in the army. They had their own 
religious meetings, and refused to pay money for 
the support of the Church of England. For these 
reasons, they were imprisoned, beaten, and driven 
from their homes. 

Edmund Perry believed that the Quakers were 
right, and he could not endure these persecutions. 
So, in 1650, he came to America to live. 

Thirty years before that time, a company of 
Pilgrims had left England because they also 
wished to be free to worship God as they chose. 



^ 2 THE S TOR y OF OLl VER HA ZA RD PERR V. 



They had founded a colony at Plymouth, which is 
now in the state of Massachusetts. 

Edmund Perry thought that in this settlement 
of Pilgrims he could surely live peaceably in the 
enjoyment of his own belief. He did not stay 
long in Plymouth, however. His Quaker religion 
was hated there, as it had been in England ; and 
the Pilgrims did not wish to have any one in their 
colony who did not agree with them. 

Not far from Plymouth was the colony of 
Rhode Island, which had been founded by Roger 
Williams. Roger Williams declared that a man 
is responsible for his opinions only to God and 
his own conscience, and that no one has any right 
to punish him for his belief. 

The people in the Rhode Island colony did not 
quarrel with one another about religion, but lived 
together in peace. 

Edmund Perry thought that this was the place 
where he could make a home for himself and his 
family. He therefore purchased a large tract of 
land on the shores of Narragansett Bay, near what 
is now the site of South Kingston. 



THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ,- ^ 



Here he lived for the rest of his hfe, at peace 
with all about him, even his Indian neighbors. 
His descendants also lived in this neighborhood. 
Among them were judges, lawyers, and doctors, as 
well as farmers and mechanics ; and they were 
always highly respected in the colony. 

Christopher Raymond Perry, a great-great- 
grandson of Edmund Perry, was born in Decem- 
ber, 1761. 

At that time there were thirteen colonies or 
great settlements of English people at different 
places along the Atlantic coast of what is now the 
United States. But troubles had already begun 
to brew between the people of these colonies and 
the king of England. These troubles finally led 
to the Revolutionary War. 

Christopher Perry, although a mere boy, was 
one of the first persons in Rhode Island to offer 
himself for this war. He joined a company of vol- 
unteers known as the *' Kingston Reds " ; but soon 
afterwards left the army and entered the navy. 
Here he served, having many adventures, until 
the close of the war, in 1783. 



y . THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. 



He had become very fond of a sailor's life, and 
when there was no more use for him in the navy 
he obtained a place on a merchant vessel, and 
went on a cruise to Ireland. 

During the homeward voyage he became ac- 
quainted with one of the passengers, a beautiful 
girl of Scotch descent, whose name was Sara 
Alexander. Soon after their arrival in America, 
their friendship ripened into love, and in 1784 
they were married in Philadelphia. 

Christopher Perry, though but twenty-three 
years of age, was then the captain of a vessel. 
The young couple went to live with Christopher's 
father, on the old Perry estate in South Kingston. 

This was then a farm of two hundred acres. 
The old homestead stood at the foot of a hill not 
far from the Narragansett shore. 

Through the trees in a neighboring wood, shone 
the white stones which marked the graves of the 
Quaker, Edmund Perry, and many of his children 
and grandchildren. 

The Perry family were glad to welcome Christo- 
pher's young wife into their home. She was as 



THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ^^ 



intelligent as she was beautiful ; and her sweet 
and happy disposition made every one love her. 

Christopher Perry gave up his life on the sea for 
a time, and many happy months were spent in the 
old home. 

On the 23d of August, 1785, their first baby 
boy was born. He was named for an uncle and 
a great-great-grandfather, Oliver Hazard Perry. 



n. — School Days. 

Oliver was a winsome baby and he grew strong 
and beautiful very fast. Every one loved him, for 
he thought all strangers were friends, and was 
never afraid of them. 

Indeed he was not afraid of anything, for to 
him there was no danger. We shall see that he 
kept this same fearlessness all through his life. 

When he was three years old, he was playing 
one day with an older child, in the road near his 
grandfather's house. A man was seen coming 
rapidly towards them on horseback. The elder 



76 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



child ran out of the way, calhng to Ohver to do the 
same. 

The httle fellow sat quite still, however, until 
the horse was nearly upon him. As the horseman 




CHILDHOOD HOME OF OLIVER PERRY. 



drew rein, Oliver looked up into his face and said, 
' ' Man, you will not ride over me, will you ? " 

The gentleman, who was a friend of the family's, 
carried him into the house, and told the story. 

When scarcely more than a baby, Oliver sat 



THE S TOR V OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ^ ^ 



Upon his mother's knee, while she taught him 
letters and words. It was not long before he could 
read quite well. By the time he was five years 
old, there were two other babies to keep the 
beautiful, loving mother busy. So it was thought 
best to send Oliver to school. 

Not far from the Perrys', there lived an old 
gentleman whom the people loved because of his 
goodness of heart. As there was no school near 
by, he had often been asked to teach the neigh- 
borhood children. 

The good old man was notoriously lazy, and 
consented upon one condition — that he should be 
allowed to have a bed in the schoolroom. 

Teachers were few in those days, and, since 
there was no one else, the bed was set up. How 
amusing it must have been to see the children 
standing about the master's bed and reciting their 
lessons! 

It was to this strange school that little Oliver 
was first sent. Some girl cousins lived on the 
adjoining farm. Though they were all older than 
he, it was Oliver's duty, each day, to take them to 



78 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



and from school. No one, not even the other 
scholars, thought this at all strange. His dignified 
manners always made him seem older than he 
really was. 

One day his mother told him that he was old 
enough to go to school at Tower Hill, a place four 
miles away. Boys and girls would now think that 
a long way to go to school ; but Oliver and his 
cousins did not mind the walk through the woods 
and over the hills. 

The master of this school was so old that he had 
once taught Oliver's grandfather. He was not lazy, 
however, and was never known to lose his temper. 

It was not long until a change was made and 
Oliver was taken away from ' ' old master Kelly. " 

For several years past, Oliver's father had been 
again on the sea. He had commanded vessels on 
successful voyages to Europe and South America, 
and now he had a large income. He was there- 
fore able to pay for better teaching for Oliver and 
the younger children. 

So the family moved from South Kingston to 
Newport, a larger town, with better schools. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. ^q 



At first Oliver did not like the change. The 
discipline was much more strict than it had been 
in the little country schools. 

His teacher, Mr. Frazer, had one serious fault. 
He had a violent temper which was not always 
controlled. 

One day he became angry at Oliver and broke a 
ruler over his head. Without a word, Oliver took 
his hat and went home. He told his mother that 
he would never go back. 

The wise mother said nothing until the next 
morning. Then, giving him a note for Mr. 
Frazer, she told him to go to school as usual. 
The proud boy's hp quivered and tears were in 
his eyes, but he never thought of disobeying his 
mother. 

The note he carried was a kind one, telling Mr. 
Frazer that she intrusted Oliver to his care again 
and hoped that she would not have cause to regret 
it. 

After this Oliver had no better friend than Mr. 
Frazer. On holidays they walked together to the 
seashore and spent many hours wandering along 



8o 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



the beach. The schoolmaster took great dehght in 
teaching OHver the rules of navigation, and the use 
of the instruments necessary for sailing a vessel. 

Oliver learned these things so readily that it 
was not long until Mr. Frazer said he was the best 
navigator in Rhode Island. This, of course, was 
not strictly true, but it showed what an apt scholar 
the boy was. 

Oliver made many friends in Newport. Among 
them was the Frenchman, Count Rochambeau. 
The father of this man was a great general, and 
had once commanded some French troops who 
helped the Americans in the Revolutionary War. 

Count Rochambeau often invited Oliver to dine 
with him, and one day he gave him a beautiful 
little watch. 

When Oliver was twelve years old, his father 
gave up his life on the sea. The family then 
moved to Westerly, a little village in the south- 
western part of Rhode Island. 

For five years Oliver had been a faithful pupil 
of Mr. Frazer's, and he was now far advanced 
for his years. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



8i 



III. — Plans for the Future. 

About this time some unexpected troubles arose 
in our country. 

France and England had been at war for years. 
The French were anxious that America should 
join in the quarrel; and when they could not bring 
this about by persuasion, they tried to use force. 

French cruisers were sent to the American shores 
to capture merchant vessels while on their way to 
foreign ports. 

You may be sure that this roused the people 
from one end of the United States to the other. 
Preparations for war with France were begun ; and 
the first great need was a better navy. 

At the close of the Revolutionary War, all work 
on government vessels had been stopped. Those 
that were unfinished were sold to shipping mer- 
chants. Even the ships of war that had done 
such good service, were sold to foreign countries. 
In this way, the entire American navy passed out 
of existence. 



82 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



But now the President, John Adams, went to 
work to estabhsh a navy that should give protec- 
tion to American commerce. 

In the spring of 1798, a naval department was 
organized, with Benjamin Stoddart as the first 
Secretary of the Navy. The following summer 
was busy with active preparations. Six new 
frigates were built, and to these were added a 
number of other vessels of various kinds. 

Captain Christopher Perry was given command 
of one of the new frigates that were being built at 
Warren, a small town near Bristol, Rhode Island. 
This vessel was to be called the Geiieral Greene. 

In order to superintend the building of this 
vessel. Captain Perry, with his wife, left his 
quiet home in Westerly, and went to stay in 
Warren. 

Oliver, then not quite thirteen years old, re- 
mained at home to take charge of the family. 

He saw that his sister and brothers went to 
school regularly. He bought all the family pro- 
visions. Each day he wrote to his father and 
mother, telling them about home affairs. In the 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



83 



meantime, he was busily planning what his work 
in life should be. 

His mother had taught him that a man must be 
brave, and always ready to serve his country. 
She had told him many stories of battles fought 
long ago in her native land across the sea. 

Oliver had lived most of his hfe in sight of the 
sea, and had spent many hours with seamen. It is 
not strange, therefore, that he should decide, — " I 
wish to be a captain like my father. " 

He had heard of the troubles with France, 
and he longed to help defend his country. And so 
at last he wrote to his father, asking permission 
to enter the navy. It was a manly letter, telling 
all his reasons for his choice. 

The consent was readily given, and Oliver soon 
afterward received an appointment as midshipman 
on his father's vessel, the General Greene. 



IV. — The Cruise in the West Indies. 

In the meantime, the people grew more eager 
for war. An army had been raised to drive back 



84 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



the French, should they attempt to invade the 
land. George Washington, though nearly sixty- 
seven years of age, had been appointed com- 
mander in chief of the American forces. 

In February, 1799, one 
of the new frigates, the Con- 
stellatioji, under Captain 
Truxton, defeated and cap- 
tured a French frigate of 
equal size. By spring the 
General Greene was com- 
pleted, and Captain Perry 
was ordered to sail for the 
West Indies. 

America had large trad- 
ing interests with those islands. Many of our 
merchant vessels brought from there large cargoes 
of fruits, coffee, and spices. The General Greene 
was ordered to protect these cargoes from the 
French cruisers, and bring them safely into port. 
For several months Captain Perry's vessel con- 
voyed ships between Cuba and the United States. 
In July, some of the sailors on board were sick 




CAPT. THOMAS TRUXTON. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



85 



with yellow fever. So Captain Perry brought the 
vessel back to Newport. 

Oliver went at once to see his mother. The 
tall lad in his bright uniform was a hero to all 
the children in the neighborhood. 

His brothers and sister considered it an honor to 
wait upon him. They would go out in the early 
morning and pick berries for his breakfast, so that 
he might have them with the dew upon them. 

While on shipboard he had learned to play a 
little on the flute. The children loved to sit about 
him, and listen to his music. 

By the autumn of 1799, the crew of the General 
Greene were well again, and Captain Perry sailed 
back to Havana. 

It was during the following winter months of 
cruising with his father, that Oliver was taught his 
lessons of naval honor. He also applied the 
lessons in navigation which he had learned from 
Mr. Frazer. 

He read and studied very carefully, and could 
not have had a better teacher than his father. 

While the Gene^^al Greene was cruising among 



86 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



the West Indies, Captain Truxton had won 
another victory with his Co7istellation. This time 
he captured a French frigate which carried sixteen 
ofuns more than the Constellation. 

The French, dismayed at these victories of the 
Americans, began to be more civil. They even 
seemed anxious for peace. 




THE CONSTELLATION. 



War had been carried on for about a year, 
though it had never been formally declared. 

In May, 1800, the General Greene came back to 
Newport, and remained in harbor until the terms 
of peace were concluded. 

The trouble with France being settled, it was 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



87 



decided by the government to dispose of nearly 
all the naval vessels. As a result, many of the 
captains and midshipmen were dismissed, Captain 
Perry being one of the number. 

Fortunately for the country, young Oliver was 
retained as midshipman. 



V. — The War with the Barbary States. 

On the northern coast of Africa, bordering on 
the Mediterranean Sea, are four countries known 
as the Barbary States. These are Tunis, Algiers, 
Tripoli, and Morocco. 

For more than four hundred years, these coun- 
tries had been making a business of sea-robbery. 
Their pirate vessels had seized and plundered the 
ships of other nations, and the captured officers 
and men were sold into slavery. 

Instead of resisting these robbers, most of the 
nations had found it easier to pay vast sums of 
money to the Barbary rulers to obtain protection 
for their commerce. 

The Americans had begun in this way, and had 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



made presents of money and goods to Algiers and 
Tunis. 

Then the ruler of Tripoli, called the Bashaw, 
informed our government that he would wait six 
months for a handsome present from us. If it did 

not come then, he would de- 
clare war against the United 
States. 

This did not frighten the 
Americans at all. Their only 
reply was to send a fleet of 
four vessels to the Mediter- 
ranean. The intention was 
to force the Bashaw to make 
a treaty which should insure 
safety for our vessels. 
• This squadron did not do much but blockade the 
ports of Tripoli. 

A year later, in 1802, a larger squadron was 
fitted out to bring the Bashaw to terms. Com- 
modore Morris was the commander. On one of 
the vessels, the Adams, was Oliver Perry as 
midshipman. 




COMMODORE CHARLES MORRIS. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



Soon after the arrival of his ship in the 
Mediterranean, Ohver celebrated his seventeenth 
birthday. 

The captain of the Adams was very fond of 
him, and succeeded in having him appointed 
lieutenant on that day. 

For a year and a half, the squadron of Commo- 
dore Morris cruised about the Mediterranean. 
No great battles were fought and no great victories 
were won. 

The Adams stopped at the coast towns of 
Spain, France, and Italy. Through the kindness 
of the captain, Oliver was often allowed to go on 
shore and visit the places of interest. 

Commodore Morris, being recalled to America, 
sailed thither in the Adams ; and so it happened 
that in November, 1803, Oliver Perry arrived again 
in America. 

His father was then living in Newport, and Oliver 
remained at home until July of the next year. 

He spent much of his time in studying mathe- 
matics and astronomy. He liked to go out 
among the young people, and his pleasing man- 



QQ THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



ners and good looks made him a general fa- 
vorite. 

He was fond of music and could play the flute 
very skillfully. When not studying, he liked most 
of all to ride horses, and fence with a sword. 

While Lieutenant Perry was spending this time 
at home, the war in the Mediterranean was still 
being carried on. Commodore Preble, who had 
succeeded Commodore Morris, had won many 
brilliant victories. 

The most daring feat of all this war was accom- 
plished by Stephen Decatur, a young lieutenant 
only twenty-three years old. 

One of the largest of the American vessels, the 
Philadelphia, had, by accident, been grounded on 
a reef. Taking advantage of her helpless condition, 
the whole Tripolitan fleet opened fire upon her. 

Captain Bainbridge, the commander of the 
Philadelphia, was obliged to surrender. The 
Tripohtans managed to float the vessel off the 
reef, and towed her into the harbor. 

Captain Bainbridge, although a prisoner, found 
means to send word of his misfortune to Commo- 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



91 



dore Preble, who was then at Malta, and the Amer- 
ican fleet at once sailed for Tripoli. 

At the suggestion of Captain Bainbridge, the 
Americans determined to burn the Philadelphia, 
rather than allow the Tripolitans to keep her. 

This was a very dangerous undertaking, as the 
vessel was anchored in the 
midst of the Tripolitan fleet. 
It was also within easy range 
of the guns of the fort, com- 
manding the harbor. 

The task was given to 
Stephen Decatur. In order 
to deceive the enemy, he 
took a small boat which had 
been captured from them a 
short time before. Its crew 
was made up of volunteers, 
for the chances of escape were very few. 

Under cover of night, the httle vessel sailed 
into the harbor, and, as if by accident, ran into 
the Philadelphia. Before the Tripolitans realized 
what had happened, Decatur and his men were 




STEPHEN DECATUR. 



92 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



climbing over the sides of the vessel and through 
the port holes. 

Decatur had ordered his men to use no fire- 
arms. He did not wish to attract the attention of 




BURNING OF THE PHILADELPHIA. 



the Tripolitans who were in the fort and on the 
other vessels in the harbor. 

A desperate hand to hand fight ensued. In a 
few minutes the Americans were in possession of 
the vessel. Some of the Tripolitan crew had 
been killed ; others had jumped into the sea. 

The Americans then set the Philadelphia on 



THE STOR V OF OLIVER HA ZA RD PERR Y. q ^ 



fire and jumped into their boat to escape. 
Lieutenant Decatur was the last one to leave the 
burning ship. 

The situation of the little band was now desper- 
ate. The Philadelphia was a mass of flames, 
lighting up the harbor for miles around. 

Decatur's little boat could be plainly seen, and 
all the vessels and forts opened fire on it. But 
the Tripolitans were too much excited to do 
serious damage. 

In a short time the fire reached the magazine of 
the Philadelphia and she blew up with a tre- 
mendous crash, leaving the harbor in darkness. 
Decatur and his men escaped with but one man 
wounded. 

This is only one of many deeds of bravery 
done in this war, but we can not tell of them in 
this story. Lieutenant Perry, in his home in 
America, heard of them, and longed to be on the 
scene of action. 

He was very glad when, in the following 
September, he was ordered to return in the 
Constellaiioii to the Mediterranean. 



Q . THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. 



The American fleet in the Mediterranean was 
by this time so large that the Bashaw was con- 
vinced that the Americans were in earnest. 

He was glad to make a treaty of peace and 
release the prisoners on payment of a small 
ransom. 

In October, 1806, Oliver Perry returned to 
America. He was greatly disappointed that he 
had not been able to take a more active part in 
the war. 

He spent most of the next two years in New- 
port, dividing his time between study and his 
many friends. 



VI. — More Trouble with England. 

While America was having these troubles with 
the Barbary States, France and England were 
still at war. Commerce all over the world was 
affected, and in some cases almost destroyed by 
this long war. 

The French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, had 
forbidden all vessels of other nations to enter 



THE STOR V OF OLIVER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ^^ 



British ports. • The Enghsh, in turn, said that no 
vessel should enter a port of France, or of any 
country belonging to France. 

But the Americans had to endure still further 
injuries from the English. British war vessels 
claimed the right to stop American ships on the 
sea, search them, and carry off American sailors, 
claiming them as deserters from the English navy. 

The French could not do this ; for no American 
sailor could be accused of being a runaway 
Frenchman. 

In 1807, an event took place which nearly led 
to war. 

The British frigate Leopard, cruising along the 
coast, hailed the American frigate Chesapeake, and 
demanded permission to search the ship. 

The captain of the Chesapeake refused. With- 
out a word of warning, the Leopard fired into the 
Chesapeake, killing and wounding more than 
twenty men. 

The American captain had not dreamed of such 
an outrage. His vessel had just put to sea and 
everything was in confusion. He did not even 



96 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



have a gun in condition to return the fire. So he 
lowered his flag and surrendered. 

The officers of the Leopard then came on board 
and carried off four men from the crew. 

The United States would have declared war at 
once if England had not apologized. 

The President, at this time, was Thomas Jeffer- 
son. He was a man of peace. He called a 
session of Congress to see if the trouble could not 
be settled without war. 

As a result of this session, a law was passed 
known as the Embargo Act. By this law, no 
vessel was allowed to sail from the United States 
to any foreign country. 

In order to enforce the law, Congress ordered a 
number of gunboats to be built. These were to 
sail up and down the coast, and prevent any 
vessel from entering or leaving the ports. 

Lieutenant Perry was ordered to superintend 
the building of a fleet of these gunboats at New- 
port. After they were built, he was put in 
command of them, and ordered to patrol Long 
Island Sound. 



THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. q - 



At this time, the government wanted a map of 
the harbors in the neighborhood of Newport. On 
account of his standing as a seaman, and of his 
education, Lieutenant Perry was selected to visit 
the harbors and make such a map. 

He was given a fast saihng schooner called the 
Revenge. While carrying on this work, he was one 
day returning from Newport to New London, 
when a dense fog came on. The Revenge struck 
upon a reef of rocks, and went to pieces. 

By great efforts Lieutenant Perry was able to 
save, not only all the crew, but the sails, rigging, 
and cannon. 

He then went to Washington to explain the loss 
of the Revenge to the navy department. It was 
made clear that it was the fault of the local pilot 
who had charge of the vessel at the time. 

Lieutenant Perry was commended for his gallant 
conduct in this disaster, and was also granted a 
year's leave of absence. He went to Newport, and 
on May 5, 181 1, he was married to Elizabeth 
Champlin Mason. 

The young couple took a wedding journey 



98 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



through New England. They spent one day in 
Plymouth, Massachusetts. Lieutenant Perry was 
much interested in visiting the place where his 
Quaker ancestor had lived so many years before. 

During this time, the people of the United 
States had learned that the Embargo Act was a 
very unwise law. The men of Congress had 
thought to injure France and England by thus re- 
fusing to trade with them altogether. They soon 
discovered, however, that the dam- 
age to American commerce was far 
greater. 

Trading vessels in the ports were 

left standing idle at the wharves, 

while the sailors were forced to find 

other employment. 

All over the country, there arose a bitter feehng 

against this law. In the New England states, 

where there were the largest shipping interests, 

there was even talk of secession from the Union. 

About this time a new President, James Madison, 
was elected. Soon afterward the Embargo Act 
was repealed, and in its place was passed a law 




JAMES MADISON. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



99 



which satisfied the people for a time. By this law, 
trade was allowed with every country but England 
and France. 

American vessels now put to sea on voyages to 
foreign lands. But their old enemies, the English, 
soon began to annoy them 
as before. 

In May, 1811, the British 
sloop Little Belt was hailed 
by the American frigate 
Presidenty under the com- 
mand of Commodore Rocl- 
gers. The reply was a can- 
non shot. The President 
then poured broadsides into 
the Little Belt. After the 
English had lost thirty-two men in killed and 
wounded, they came to terms. 

The American people now saw that war could 
no longer be avoided. On June 18, 181 2, the 
formal declaration was made. 




COMMODURli JOHN RODGERS. 



J QQ THE STOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. 



VII. — War on the Canadian Border. 

Up to this time the Enghsh navy had been 
called the "Mistress of the Seas." England's ves- 
sels could be numbered by the hundred, and the 
crews by the ten thousand. 

When this war of 1812 was declared, the entire 
United States navy comprised about half a dozen 
frigates, and six or eight sloops and brigs. Along 
the American coast alone the English had seven 
times this number of war vessels. 

The first few months of the war were full of 
naval surprises. In that brief time the Americans 
captured more British ships than the French had 
taken in twenty years. 

On August 19th, the American frigate Constitu- 
tion, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, in one 
half hour captured the English frigate Giierriere. 
The English lost one hundred men, and the vessel 
was so disabled that she was left to sink. The 
Americans lost but fourteen men, and in a few 
hours the ship was ready for another battle. 

Several other victories followed in quick succes- 



THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. , -^ . 



sion. In all this time the Americans did not lose 
a ship. 

In December, Commodore Bainbridge, the same 
officer who had been taken prisoner years before 
by the Tripolitans and had afterwards been pro- 
moted, was cruising with the frigate Constitution 
off the coast of Brazil. He there encountered and 
captured the British frigate y^^z^*^. 

But though so successful on the sea, the Amer- 
icans were defeated many times on land. 

The possession of the Great Lakes was of the 
utmost importance to both the English and the 
Americans. 

Ever since the Revolution the English had kept 
a naval force on these lakes. They had hoped 
that some time they might be able to extend the 
Canadian territory along the Great Lakes and 
down the Mississippi to New Orleans. This would 
give them the possession of the great west. 

Many prosperous towns and trading posts were 
scattered along the Canadian shores. To capture 
some of these was the task given to the American 
army. 



I02 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



The campaign was opened by General William 
Hull. With two thousand men he crossed the 
Detroit River, and marched into Canada. 

After a few skirmishes with the Indians, he fell 
back to the fort at Detroit. Then, without firing 
a single gun, he gave up this fort to the English. 
This surrender was a great loss to the Ameri- 
cans for many reasons. 

There was, in the west, 
a bold Indian warrior 
whose name was Tecum- 
seh. He had a brother 
whom the Indians called 
the Prophet, because he 
was a medicine man and 
could do wonderful things. 
These two Indians wished 
to form a union of all the 
tribes from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. They 
hoped that in this way they might prevent 
the white settlers from taking their hunting 
grounds. 

''The white men are continually driving the red 




TECUMSEH. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



people toward the west ; by and by we shall be 
driven into the Great Water, " they said. 

The governor-general of Canada made the 
Indians many promises, and tried to incite them 
against the United States. In this way he per- 
suaded many warlike tribes to give aid to the 
English. Tecumseh himself crossed into Canada 
and joined the British army under General Proctor. 

After Hull's surrender of Detroit, the British and 
Indians took possession not only of that fort, but 
also of Fort Dearborn, where Chicago now stands. 
The territory of Michigan was completely in their 
hands, and the settlers along the 
lakes and all through the north- 
west were at the mercy of the 
Indians. 

General William Henry Harri- 
son tried to regain Detroit. His 
advance guard was met and de- william henry 

. - 1 T-» • T-» • • r HARRISON. 

feated at the Kiver Kaism, a tew 
miles south of Detroit. Every American prisoner 
was murdered by the Indians; and for years after- 
ward the River Raisin was a name of horror. 




I OZL ^"^^ STOR V OF OLIVER HAZARD PERR V. 



The Americans felt that something desperate 
must be done. The first great thing to be gained 
was the control of the lakes. 

At this time nearly the whole of the western 
country was a wilderness. The only way of mov- 
ing men and supplies from place to place, was by 
the use of boats on the lakes and water courses. 

On Lake Ontario a small fleet had been built, 
and a skirmish or two had been fought. But the 
thing of most importance was the control of Lake 
Erie. This would not only give back Detroit to the 
Americans, but would also be the means of recov- 
ering the whole of the Michigan territory. 

The task of building a fleet and driving the 
English from the lakes was given to Lieutenant 
Perry. 

At the beginning of the war he had left his 
quiet home in Newport, and had hurried to Wash- 
ington to ask for active service. 

He was promised the first vacancy, but in the 
meantime he was ordered to protect the harbors of 
Long Island Sound with a flotilla of gunboats. 

During the year 1812 he performed this duty 



THE STOR Y OF OLIVER HAZA RD PERR V. j q - 



faithfully, all the while drilling his men, in hopes 
of being intrusted with a larger responsibility. 



VIII. — Oliver Perry Builds a Fleet. 

In February, 1813, Lieutenant Perry was or- 
dered to go to Lake Erie. He was to take with 
him, from his gunboats, the men whom he 
thought best fitted for the service and report to 
Commodore Chauncey, who was in command of the 
squadron on Lake Ontario. The American head- 
quarters, on that lake, were at Sacketts Harbor. 

It was almost impossible to reach the place. 
From the Hudson River to the shores of Lake 
Ontario, was a vast wilderness. No road had 
been cut through it; none but Indians could follow 
the difficult trails. 

The only route known to the white men was 
along \he Mohawk River to Lake Oneida, then by 
the Oswego River to the little village of Oswego on 
Lake Ontario. To transport men and arms along 
this route was a great task, requiring much time, 
skill, and patience. 



io6 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



Oliver Perry was a man of action. On the very 
day that he received his orders, he started fifty 
men to Lake Ontario, and the next day fifty 
more. 

On February 2 2d, in the coldest part of winter, 
he left his home and his young wife in Newport, 




and with his brother 
Alexander, began the 
difficult journey to- 
wards the north. 
Sometimes they traveled in rude sleighs over the 
roughest of roads. Sometimes, when the river 
was not too full of ice, they embarked in canoes. 
At other times, they could only go on foot through 
the thick underbrush. On all sides was a vast 



777^ STOR Y OF OLIVER HAZARD PERR Y. j q^ 



wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and un- 
friendly Indians. 

At Oswego, they embarked in boats and followed 
the shore of Lake Ontario to Sacketts Harbor. 
On one side of them was the dreary inland sea 
fall of tossing white caps and overhung by the 
leaden sky of winter. On the other side lay the 
trackless forest. 

To relieve their loneliness, they occasionally fired 
a musket. The echoes would roll along the shore, 
growing fainter and fainter. This only made the 
silence which followed seem greater than before. 

A cold rain began to fall, and by the time they 
reached Sacketts Harbor they were drenched to 
the skin. 

On March i6th. Lieutenant Perry set out for 
Lake Erie. Upon reaching the harbor at Erie he 
found that twenty-five ship carpenters had already 
begun work on three gunboats and two brigs. 
Fifty more carpenters had started four weeks 
before from Philadelphia, but had not yet arrived. 

The task which lay before Oliver Perry seemed 
almost an impossible one. Mechanics, seamen, 



io8 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



guns, sailcloth, — everything needed for the ships 
must be brought hundreds of miles through a wild 
and half-settled country. 

But by the end of the summer, a fleet, which 
seemed to have been built by magic, was ready to 
meet the English. Six months before, the timbers 
used in building the vessels had been growing trees; 
the iron that held these timbers together was either 
in the mines or in warehouses or farmers' barns, in 
the shape of plowshares, axes, or horseshoes. 

The shipbuilders had come through the wilder- 
ness from Philadelphia. The guns, ammunition, 
and rigging had been brought in ox-wagons, hun- 
dreds of miles over almost impassable roads. 

While Perry was building this 
fleet, a sad event had taken place 
on the sea. The British frigate 
Shannon met and captured the 
American frigate Chesapeake, June 
I, 1 813, near Boston harbor. 

Captain Lawrence of the Chesa- 
peake fought bravely, but, in the 
battle, was mortally wounded. As he was being 




CAPTAIN JAMES 
LAWRENCE. 



THE STOR V OF OLIVER HA ZA RD PERR Y. j qq 



carried below, his last words were: ** Don't give 
up the ship ! " 

The Secretary of the Navy sent word to Lieuten- 
ant Perry to name one of the vessels of his new 
fleet the Lazvrerice, after this gallant captain. 
Lieutenant Perry therefore gave this name to his 
flagship. 

By the loth of July the fleet was ready for sea, 
but there were only officers and men enough to 
man one ship. Several of these were ill with fever. 

Lieutenant Perry wrote many letters to General 
Harrison, Commodore Chauncey, and the Secre- 
tary of the Navy. 

''Give me men, and I will acquire both for you 
and for myself honor and glory on this lake, or die 
in the attempt," he said. 

By the end of July he had over four hundred 
men for his nine vessels. But, as he said, they 
were a ' 'motley crew" of regular soldiers, negroes^ 
and raw recruits. During the battle which fol-\ 
lowed, over a hundred of these men were too sick 
to be of any use. 

The English fleet of six vessels was commanded 



I lO '^^^ STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



by Captain Barclay. In his crews were over five 
hundred men and boys. 



IX. — "We Have Met the Enemy and They are 

Ours." 

Early in August the American squadron left the 
harbor of Erie, and sailed to Put-in-Bay, an 
island not far from the west end of the lake. 

The British squadron was in the harbor of Fort 
Maiden, nearly opposite on the Canadian shore. 

On the morning of September lo, 1813, from 
the masthead of the Lawrejice, the English fleet 
was seen approaching. 

As the Americans were sailing out to battle. 
Lieutenant Perry gathered his men together and 
talked to them about the courage they would need. 

He showed them a large blue flag, bearing in 
white letters a foot high the words: ''Don't give 
up the ship !" 

"My brave lads," he said, "this flag bears the 
last words of Captain Lawrence. Shall I hoist it?" 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. j , j 



With one voice, the men shouted: ''Aye, aye, 
Sir! 

As the bunting was run up on the Lazvrence, 
cheer upon cheer came from every vessel of the 
American squadron. The men were then sent to 
their quarters, and every one quietly waited for 
the beginning of battle. 

It was a beautiful morning. The skv was cloud- 
less, and there was hardly a ripple to disturb the 
lake. The English vessels were newly painted, and 
gayly adorned with flags. Every sail shone in 
dazzling whiteness in the sunlight. 

At half-past ten a bugle was heard from the 
English flagship, which was followed by cheers 
from the other vessels. Across the water the 
Americans could hear the strains of the English 
national air played by a band. 

On the Lawrence all was still. With determined 
faces the men stood by the guns. 

Lieutenant Perry knew that a great responsibil- 
ity was upon him. He knew that, should he lose 
the battle, General Proctor and Tecumseh, with 
five thousand soldiers and Indians, were ready to 



J J 2 ^^^ 5r(9^ V OF OLIVER HAZARD PERR Y. 



cross the lake, and take possession of the southern 
shore. All through that part of the country, 
anxious men, women, and children were waiting 
to flee from their homes, if the dreaded Indians 
came upon them. 

These things Lieutenant Perry knew. He 
passed along the deck, carefully examining every 
gun. He had a word of encouragement for each 
gun crew. 

Seeing some of the men who had fought on the 
Constitution, he said, ' * I need not say anything to 
you. You know how to beat those fellows." 

As he passed another gun, commanded by a crew 
that had served in his gunboat flotilla, he said: 
** Here are the Newport boys! They will do their 
duty, I warrant." 

In this way he filled all his men with a great 
earnestness, and a determination to conquer or die. 

While the two squadrons were yet a mile apart, 
the English sent a cannon ball skimming over the 
water. For some time there followed a vigorous 
firing from both sides. 

As the English guns could carry farther than 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. j j ^ 



those of the Americans, Lieutenant Perry brought 
his flagship into close quarters. The other Amer- 
ican vessels were some distance behind. 

The whole British squadron then opened fire 
upon the Lazvrence. 

At the end of an hour of this unequal battle, the 
condition of the Lawrence was pitiable. One by 
one the guns had been disabled. Finally only one 
on the side toward the enemy could be used. The 
rigging was damaged, the spars were shattered, 
and the sails were torn into shreds. Eighty-three 
men had been killed or wounded. 

Two musket balls passed through Lieutenant 
Perry's hat, and his clothing was torn by flying 
splinters. 

One heavy shot crushed into the large china 
closet, and smashed every dish with a great clatter. 
A dog, that had been locked up there, startled by 
the noise, added to the tumult by howling dis- 
mally. 

Several times the Lawrence barely escaped being 
blown up. Two cannon balls passed entirely 
through the powder magazine. 



J J . THE STOR Y OF OLIVER HA ZA RD PERR Y. 



Even the wounded men crawled upon the deck 
to lend a feeble hand in firing the guns. It was 
Oliver Perry himself, however, that loaded and 
fired the last gun of the Lawrence, 

Lieutenant Perry at last determined to change 
his flag from the Lawre^ice to the Niagara. A 
breeze had sprung up, which enabled this vessel to 
come near to the helpless Lawre7ice, 

The first lieutenant was left in command of the 
Lawrence, with orders to hold out to the last. 
Then with his brother Alexander and four seamen. 
Lieutenant Perry got into a rowboat. Just as 
they were shoving off, a seaman on the Lawrence 
hauled down the blue flag, bearing the motto, 
** Don't give up the ship!" He rolled it up and 
tossed it to Perry. 

The smoke of the battle was so dense that the 
rowboat had nearly reached the Niagara before it 
was seen by the English. Then a shot was sent 
which went straight through the boat's side. 

Taking off his coat and rolling it up, Perry 
quickly thrust it into the hole which the ball had 
made. This kept the boat from sinking. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



115 



As he stepped upon the deck of the Nia 



p-ara. 



Perry ordered the blue flag to be hoisted. Just at 
this moment the Lawrejice surrendered. 

The Enghsh gave a cheer, thinking they had 
won the battle. They were not able, however, to 



^ 



^S<b-:?J3^^^_ 




%^ 




THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 



board and take the Lawrence at once, and so she 
drifted away. When safely out of range her 
colors were rehoisted. 

Bringing the Niagara into position, Lieutenant 
Perry fired a terrific broadside into one of the Eng- 
lish vessels. Then he sailed quickly to another 
and did the same thing. 

The other American vessels followed this exam- 
ple, and a terrific battle followed. 



ii6 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



In just fifteen minutes the English surrendered. 
Two vessels of their squadron attempted to es- 
cape, but were soon overtaken and captured. 

Lieutenant Perry was determined that the 
formal surrender should take place on the Law- 
rejice. So once more he lowered his flag, and 
jumping into a boat, made for his first flagship. 

When he stepped on board the Lawrence not a 
cheer was heard. The handful of men that were 
left silently greeted their commander. 

Few of them were uninjured. Some had splin- 
tered arms and legs. Others had bandages about 
their heads. Their faces were black with powder. 

The English oflicers came on board to present 
their swords to Perry. With quiet dignity he 
returned each one. 

He then took from his pocket an old letter. 
Using his cap for a desk, he wrote with a pencil 
his famous dispatch to General Harrison: 

* * We have met the enemy and they are ours. 
Two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop. 
Yours, with very great respect and esteem, 

-O. H. Perry." 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. j j ^ 



X. — What Perry's Victory Accomplished. 

The battle on Lake Erie was the beginning of 
the end of the war. The news of the victory 
caused great rejoicings all over the country. In 
all the principal towns there were meetings, bon- 
fires, and torchlight processions. 

General Harrison could now take his army into 
Canada. No time was lost. He hurried over four 
thousand men to the lake, where Perry's fleet 
waited to take them across. 

The main body of the British army, under 
General Proctor and Tecumseh, was at Fort Mai- 
den. Upon landing there the Americans found 
that the enemy had fled, having burned the forts, 
barracks, and stores. 

General Harrison followed the English up the 
left bank of the Detroit River. The fort at De- 
troit was surrendered without any resistance, and 
the English retreated along the St. Clair Lake 
and up the Thames River. 

The Americans steadily pursued them. Perry, 



ii8 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



with his fleet, followed the army, carrying the 
baggage and provisions. 

He became so excited over the chase that he 
could not remain quietly on his ships. So, leaving 
them in charge of one of his officers, he went 
ashore and offered his services to General Harri- 
son as aid-de-camp. 

As he joined the army he was met with cheers 
of welcome from the soldiers. General Harrison 
afterward said : ' ' The appearance of the gallant 
Perry cheered and animated every soldier." 

Following the English some distance up the 
Thames, the Americans finally overtook them. 
They were drawn up in line of battle on a narrow 
strip of land which lay between the river and a 
large swamp. 

The American cavalry made a bold dash 
through these lines, and the enemy was soon 
routed. Over sixty British and Indians were 
killed, and six hundred troops were made prisoners. 
General Proctor made his escape, but Tecumseh 
was killed. 

The death of this great chief severed forever the 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. j , q 



tie which bound the Indians to the Enghsh. Soon 
afterwards all the tribes of the northwest declared 
submission to the United States. The white set- 
tlers in the region about the Great Lakes were 
thus freed from their fear of the savages. 

During the battle of the Thames, the soldiers 
greatly admired the fine horsemanship of Oliver 
Perry. He rode a powerful black horse, with a 
white face, that could be seen from all parts of the 
field. 

Once, when riding swiftly to carry out some orders 
of the general's, the horse plunged into the deep 
mire to his breast. Perry pressed his hands on 
the pommel of the saddle, and sprang over the 
horse's head to dry ground. 

Relieved from the weight of his " rider, the 
horse freed himself and bounded forward. Perry 
clutched the mane as he passed and vaulted into 
the saddle, without stopping the animal's speed for 
a moment. As he passed the soldiers, many 
cheers arose. 

On October 7, 18 13, Perry returned to Detroit, 
and from there started back to his home in New- 



I20 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



port. The people hailed him with joy, and enough 
could not be said in his praises. Even Captain 
Barclay of the English fleet called him / ' The gal- 
lant and generous enemy. " 

His journey to Newport was indeed a triumphal 
one. In every town that he passed through, busi- 
ness was stopped and the schools were closed so 
that all could have a glimpse of the hero of Lake 
Erie. Processions accompanied him from town to 
town. 

On November i8th, he reached his home in 
Newport. Bells were rung, all the ships were 

adorned with 
flags, and salutes 
were fired in his 
honor. 

On November 
29th, he received 
his promotion to 
the rank of cap- 
tain. At that time this was the highest rank in 
the American navy. A gold medal was also given 
to him by Congress. 




GOLD MEDAL AWARDED BY CONGRESS. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. j2I 



In the following January he made a visit to 
Washington, where he was publicly entertained by 
the President and citizens. 

In August, 1 8 14, he was ordered to command a 
new frigate named the Java. He hastened to 
Baltimore, where this vessel was to be launched. 

On the nth of September, Lieutenant Mac- 
donough, who was in command of the American 
squadron on Lake Champlain, gained a decisive 
victory over the British near Plattsburg. Every- 
thing at the North seemed now to be favorable 
to the Americans ; but it was not so at the 
South. 

While Captain Perry was waiting at Baltimore, 
the British had sailed up the Potomac with an 
army and a fleet. They captured Washington, 
and burned the capitol, the White House, and 
some of the other public buildings. 

Being so successful in this, they made a like 
attempt upon Baltimore, but were driven back. 
They then blockaded Chesapeake Bay. 

Just at this time. Congress passed a bill to fit 
out two squadrons of fast-sailing vessels. These 



J 2 2 ^^^ STOR Y OF OLIVER HAZA RD PERR Y. 



were to cruise near the English coasts and destroy 
the commerce between the different ports. 

Captain Perry was ordered to leave the Java 
and command one of these squadrons. But before 
he could sail for England, peace was declared. A 
treaty with that country was signed December 
24, 1814. 



XL — On the Mediterranean Again. 

While the United States had been at war with 
England, trouble had again arisen with the Barbary 
States. None of these countries had been so 
annoying as Algiers. The ruler, or Dey, of Algiers 
knew that every American naval vessel was busy 
fighting the English. He therefore thought this a 
good time to burn and plunder the merchant ships. 
He also demanded large sums of money in return 
for his captured prizes and prisoners. 

But no sooner was peace concluded with Eng- 
land, than Congress declared war with Algiers. A 
squadron was sent to the Mediterranean, com- 
manded by the brave Stephen Decatur, and he 



THE STOR Y OF OLIVER HAZARD PERR V. ^ ^ 



soon compelled the Dey to sign a treaty with the 
United States. 

In this treaty the Dey promised to give back all 
the American property he had captured. If there 
was anything that he could not return, he was to 
pay for it at its full value. He was also to release all 
the Americans he held as prisoners, and give up, 
forever, all claim to tribute money from the United 
States. 

When the consuls of other countries heard of 
what Decatur had accomplished, they tried to per- 
suade the Algerine ruler to make the same terms 
with them. Then the Dey was sorry that he had 
* 'humbled himself" before the young republic, and 
he declared that he did not consider the treaty 
binding. 

Congress therefore thought it wise to strengthen 
the American squadron in the Mediterranean, in 
order that this trouble should be settled. 

Captain Perry was ordered to take they^^z^^^ and 
sail at once for Algiers. On January 22, 18 16, he 
set sail, and in March he joined the American 
vessels off the eastern coast of Spain. 



I 2 A "^^^ ^ '^^^ ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ RD PERR Y. 



Upon arriving at Algiers, they found that the 
Dey had just received a large amount of tribute 
money from an English fleet. This made him 
very unwilling to talk about treaties. 

The English fleet had not only brought money 
to pay for the release of English prisoners, but 
also had brought vast sums from the governments 
of Naples and Sardinia to buy the freedom of their 
enslaved countrymen. 

Twelve hundred captives were freed in this 
way, and put aboard the English vessels. There 
were people of all ages, clothed in rags. Some 
had been taken while young and now were old men, 
with gray hair and beards. 

The Dey refused to treat with the American 
commander, and the Americans would have de- 
stroyed the Algerian fleet and bombarded the town 
at once, but for an article in the treaty which 
Decatur had made. This article stated that when 
either side should become dissatisfied with the 
treaty, three months' notice should be given before 
actual fighting began. 

While waiting for these three months to pass. 



THE STOR Y OF OLIVER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ^^^ 



the American squadron cruised about the Mediter- 
ranean and visited the other Barbary States. The 
commander wished to show the rulers of these 
states that our country had a navy which could 
protect our commerce. 

After this the fleet sailed along the south- 
ern coast of Europe. There was no vessel 
which attracted more admiration than Captain 
Perry's Java. To visit this ship was, indeed, a 
pleasure. 

The captain was a courteous host, and always 
made his guests welcome. Everything on the ship 
was in order, and ready for instant use. The dis- 
cipHne of the crew was perfect. 

Being a good musician himself, Captain Perry 
had the finest band in all the fleet. He took a 
personal interest in each one of his men, and was 
always ready with a word of praise when he saw it 
was deserved. He gave the midshipmen lessons 
in navigation, and saw that they had lessons in 
Spanish and French and in the use of the sword. 
They were even taught to dance. 

Whenever it was possible the men were allowed 



126 



THE STORY OF OLll'ER HAZARD PERRY. 



to o'o on shore, in order that thev mi^ht visit the 
places of interest. 

By January, 1817, the Dey of Algiers finally 
came to terms and signed a new treaty, agreeing 
to the conditions required by the United States. 
Captain Perry was soon afterwards ordered to 
sail for America, carr3-ing this new treaty with 
him. In March he arrived at Newport. 



XII. — Captain Perrv's Last Cruise. 

After so many months of cruising, Captain Perry 
was very glad to be again in his own country. 

He spent the next two years quietly at home 
with his family. He built a snug little cottage in 
Narragansett, on the old Perry estate. This was 
the same farm that had been purchased by the 
young Quaker, Edmund Perry, so many years 
before. Here the family spent the summers. 

Captain Perry was always fond of life in the 
country. He took many long rides on horseback. 
Besides his horses, he had many other pets on the 



THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ^^J 



farm. He and his three httle sons spent a great 
deal of time taking care of them. 

The winters were passed in the house at 
Newport. 

These were the happiest years of Ohver Perry's 
hfe, and he could not help but be sorry, when, on 




siE--4.4 



CAPTAIN PERRY S RESIDENCE AT NEWPORT. 

March 31, 18 19, he received a summons to go to 
Washington. 

Upon arriving there, the Secretary of the Navy 
told him of an expedition that the government 
wished him to undertake. 

He was to go to Venezuela, on the northern 
coast of South America. This was a new republic 



128 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



which had formerly been a colony of Spain. Its 
people were still fighting for their independence, 
just as the people of the United States had fought 
against the king of England. 

Small, fast-sailing war vessels, called privateers, 
had been fitted out by this republic. These ves- 
sels were designed to capture Spanish merchant 
ships, and were allowed to keep all the money that 
was obtained from the prizes. 

But it was not the Spanish ships alone which 
suffered from these privateers. The desire for 
prize money led them to attack ships of other 
nations. The American merchants had met with 
many losses in this way. 

Captain Perry was to present claims for these 
losses, and also to persuade the president of 
Venezuela to keep his privateers from preying on 
American commerce. For this expedition, Perry 
was to have two vessels, the sloop John Adams 
and the schooner Nonsuch. 

On July 15, 181 7, he arrived at the mouth of 
the Orinoco River. Here he was obliged to take 
the small schooner in order to go up the river and 



THE S TOR Y OF OLI VER HA ZA RD PERR Y. ^ 2 Q 



reach the town of Angostura, which was then the 
Venezuelan capital. He sent the John Adams to 
Port Spain, on the island of Trinidad, one hun- 
dred and fifty miles away. This vessel was or- 
dered to wait there for his return. 

The voyage up the Orinoco was an interesting 
one. All along the shores were vast tropical for- 
ests with overhanging trees full of birds of brilliant 
colors. Luxuriant vines were festooned from limb 
to limb. Flowers of all colors grew everywhere. 

On the other hand, the trip was full of hardships. 
The heat was fearful and the sand-flies, gnats, 
and mosquitoes were almost unbearable. 

Soon after reaching Angostura many of the 
crew were taken ill with yellow fever, but Perry 
would not leave until his mission was accom- 
plished. After three weeks of delay, he succeeded 
in getting the promises for which he had come. 

The schooner then sailed down the river, reach- 
ing the mouth on August 15th. On account of a 
high sea, to cross the bar that night would be a 
dangerous undertaking, and the vessel was there- 
fore anchored until morning. 



THE STORY OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY. 



During the night, the wind freshened so much 
that the spray dashed into the cabin where Captain 
Perry was sleeping. In the morning he awoke with 
a cold chill and symptoms of yellow fever. 

Every effort was made to reach th.Q John Ada77ts 
as soon as possible. Captain Perry grew rapidly 
worse. In the intense heat, his little schooner 
cabin was most uncomfortable. 

The winds were unfavorable and the progress of 
the little vessel was slow. When within a mile of 
the John Adams, Captain Perry died. This was 
on his thirty-fourth birthday, August 23, 18 19. 

He was buried on the island of Trinidad with 
military honors, and the Johji Adams brought back 
the sad news to the United States. 

His death was regarded as a national calamity. 
The government sent a war vessel to bring his body 
home. He was finally laid to rest at Newport, 
where a granite monument marks his grave. 

The feelings of his fellow officers were well 
expressed by Stephen Decatur. Upon hearing of 
Perry's death, he said: ''Sir! The American navy 
has lost its brightest ornament!" 



THE STORY OF 

ADMIRAL FARRAGUT 






'y jr ^^^^>-^>C^^^Z_^^^i^^!^^ 



132 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT, 



I. — Childhood. 

On July 5, 1 80 1, m a rude cabin in Eastern 
Tennessee, David Glasgow Farragut was born. 

It was a wild and lonely place. For miles 
around the little farm, nothing could be seen but 
woods. Few sounds could be heard save the sing- 
ing of birds and sometimes the cries of wild 
beasts. 

There was already one child in the family, a 
boy, whose name was William. 

George Farragut, the father, was a brave man. 
He was a Spaniard, and had come to America 
during the Revolutionary War. 

He was a lover of liberty, and for that reason he 
had taken up arms with the colonists to help them 

win their independence from England. 

133 



J ^ ^ THE STOR Y OF ADMIRAL FARRA GUT. 



After the close of the war, he had married a 
hardy frontier girl, and had come to this wild place 
to make his home. 

His life on the little clearing in the backwoods 
was one of toil and frequent hardships. Every day 
he was busy chopping down trees, planting crops, or 
hunting in the great forest. 

The young wife, Elizabeth, was also busy, keep- 
ing her house and spinning and making the clothes 
for herself, her husband, and her children. 

Little David Farragut grew strong very fast. 

He and William had no playmates, but they 
liked to run about under the trees. They could 
not go far from the cabin, however, as there were 
both wild beasts and Indians in the woods. 

Sometimes the father would be away for several 
days, hunting wild game for the family to eat. At 
such times, the mother and children would be left 
alone. 

One day a band of Indians came and tried to 
enter the cabin. The mother sent the boys into 
the loft, where they crouched down close to the 
roof and kept very still. Then, for hours, she 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



guarded the door with an axe, until, at last, 
something frightened the Indians and they went 
away. 

When little David was about seven years old, 
his father was appointed by the government to 
command a gunboat on the Mississippi. As his 
headquarters were to be at New Orleans, the 
family moved to a plantation on the banks of Lake 
Pontchartrain. This lake is near the city. 

When not on duty on the gunboat, George Far- 
ragut was very fond of sailing on the lake. He 
had a little sailboat in which he would take the 
children, even in severe storms. 

Sometimes the weather would be so bad that they 
couldn't come home; and then they would sleep all 
night on the shore of some island. The father 
would wrap the children in a sail, or cover them 
with dry sand to keep them warm. 

One day a neighbor told him that it was danger- 
ous to take the children on such trips. George Far- 
ragut replied, "Now is the time to conquer their 
fears. " 

When fishing in the lake one morning, George 



J ^ ^ THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. 



Farragut saw a boat in which there was an old man 
all alone. Pulling alongside, he found that the 
stranger had become unconscious from the heat of 
the sun. 

He was taken to the Farragut home, and, al- 
though he was nursed for some time with the great- 
est of care and everything was 'done for him that 
could be done, yet he grew no better. 

Finally Mrs. Farragut also was taken very ill, 
and in a few days both she and the stranger she 
had nursed so tenderly, died. This was a sad day 
for the family of George Farragut. 

Not long after the funeral, a stranger called 
at the Farragut house. He said that his name 
was David Porter and that he was the son of the 
old gentleman who had died there. He thanked 
George Farragut for his kindness to his father, and 
offered to adopt one of the Farragut boys. 

There were now five children in the family, and 
David's father was very glad to accept this offer. 
The oldest son, William, already had a commis- 
sion as midshipman in the navy, and so it was 
decided that David should be the one to go. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j ^^ 



Captain Porter was at that time the commander 
of the naval station at New Orleans. His hand- 
some uniform, with its belt and shining buttons, 
seemed very attractive to little David, and he was 
eager to go with his new guardian. 

David spent a few months with the Porter family 
in New Orleans. Then Captain Porter took him 
to Washington and placed him in school there. 

One day David was introduced to a great man, 
the Secretary of the Navy. He asked the boy 
many questions, and was so pleased with his intel- 
ligent answers that he said to him, *'My boy, when 
you are ten years old I shall make you a midship- 
man in the navy." 

This was a proud moment for little David Farra- 
gut. The great man did not forget his promise. 
The appointment came six months before the time 
that was named. It was arranged that the lad 
should go with Captain Porter in the frigate 
£ssex. 

It was several months, however, before the vessel 
was ready to sail. In the meantime, David at- 
tended a school in Chester, Pennsylvania. 



jog THE STOR Y OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUl. 



II. — The Little Midshipman. 

For a long time England had been at war with 
France. British men-of-war and privateers were 
in the habit of attacking any vessel going to or 
from the ports of France. More than this, the 
British government claimed the right to search 
American vessels to see whether any English 
sailors were on board. 

Nor was this the worst. Numbers of American 
seamen were falsely accused of being English 
deserters, and every year many were taken from 
their own vessels and forced to serve on British 
ships. 

The Americans tried to induce the British gov- 
ernment to cease this unjust treatment. They 
tried to settle the matter peaceably, but the British 
were haughty and overbearing and would not agree 
to give up any of their claims. 

On June i8, 1812, things had gone so far that our 
country was obliged to declare war against Great 
Britain. A squadron was fitted out and ordered 
to cruise along the Atlantic coast, in order to pro- 
tect American vessels from the British. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



139 



Captain Porter's vessel, the Essex, was, to be one 
of this fleet. It was not ready, however, to sail 
with the others; but orders were given that it 
should follow as soon as possible and join the 
squadron in the Atlantic. 

If Captain Porter could 
not find the squadron, he 
was to do whatever he 
thought best. 

On October 28, 1812, the 
Essex sailed down the Dela- 
ware River, and through 
the bay into the ocean. 
There was a pennant flying 
from the mast-head on 

which were the words, ' ' Free Trade and Sailors' 
Rights " It was for these things that Captain 
Porter was ready to fight. By his side stood 
the little midshipman, David Farragut, in his 
shining uniform. There was no prouder boy in all 
America than he was on that day. 

For several months, Captain Porter cruised 
about the Atlantic. He captured several English 




CAPTAIN DAVID PORTER. 



J . Q THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FARRAGUT. 



vessels, and then, as he could not find the Ameri- 
can squadron, he decided to make a trip around 
Cape Horn, and cruise in the Pacific. 

The passage around Cape Horn is one of the 
most dangerous in the world, but Captain Porter 
was not afraid. The Essex was one of the best 
ships in the navy, and the crew had been drilled 
very thoroughly. 

Sometimes Captain Porter sounded a false alarm 
of fire on shipboard. This was to test the courage 
of the men and prepare them for accidents. Some- 
times he even caused a smoke to be made. The 
sailors soon became so accustomed to a cry of 
• ' Fire " that it caused no confusion. 

The courage of the crew was severely tried in 
going around Cape Horn. The weather was bit- 
terly cold, and for twenty-one days the ship was 
buffeted by furious storms. 

By this time the provisions were almost gone. 
Each man had but a small daily allowance of 
bread and water. Little David Farragut was 
having his first real experience as a sailor. 

From Cape Horn, Captain Porter sailed north 



THE STOR V OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. j . 



along the west coast of South America, and 
stopped at an island near the coast of Chili. The 
sailors went on shore with their guns and killed 
some wild hogs and horses. They were in such 
need of fresh meat that they ate even the flesh of 
the horses with great relish. 

For months the Essex cruised about in the 
beautiful Pacific. Captain Porter captured several 
English vessels, and warned American whaling- 
ships of danger. Some of these had been at sea 
for many months and had not heard of the 
war. , 

Sometimes the Essex w^ould stop at an island, 
and the crew would go on shore to kill seals; 
sometimes they would anchor in shallow bays and 
fish for cod. 

On one solitary island there was a strange post- 
office, a box nailed to a tree. Here passing ves- 
sels would leave messages and letters, to be taken 
up by other vessels that chanced to be going in 
the right direction. 

The Essex stopped at this island for some time. 
The crew found prickly pears to eat. They killed 



J A 2 THE STOR Y OF ADMIRAL FARRA GUT. 



pigeons, which the cook made into pies, and they 
made soup of the turtles they caught. Those 
were great days for David Farragut. 

The Essex finally left this island in May, 1813. 
Soon more English vessels were sighted and 
captured. One of these was to be taken to Val- 
paraiso, and Captain Porter put David Farragut 
in charge of it. The young commander was then 
but twelve years of age. 

The gray-haired English captain was very angry 
at having to take orders from a boy. He tried 
to ignore David, and when he failed in this, 
attempted to frighten him. He threatened to 
shoot any man who obeyed David's orders, and 
went below for his pistols. 

David knew that the American sailors were loyal 
to him. So he sent word to the captain that if he 
did not obey, he would have him thrown over- 
board. 

After this there was no more trouble. David 
brought the vessel into the port of Valparaiso in 
safety. He soon afterward rejoined the Essex. 

Captain Porter now decided to go to some 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. t ^ ^ 



islands far out in the Pacific, where he could refit 
the ship. 

As the Essex approached one of these islands, 
she was met by a canoe filled with natives. The 
bodies of these people were tattooed, and they were 
gayly ornamented with feathers. They invited 
the sailors on shore, and promised to give them 
fruit and provisions. 

During the six weeks that were occupied in re- 
fitting the ship, the sailors rested on the island. 
David and the other boys of the crew were given 
lessons by the ship's chaplain each day, and when 
school hours were over, they were allowed to visit 
the islanders. 

The young natives taught the American boys 
many things. They showed them how to walk 
on stilts, and how to use a spear skillfully and with 
ease. Best of all, they taught them how to swim. 
The people of this island could swim as easily as 
they could walk. Even the babies could float in the 
water like ducks. 

The Essex left this island in December, 1813, 
and sailed for Valparaiso. 



J ^^ THE STOR Y OF ADMIRAL FARRA GUT, 



III. — The Loss of the Essex. 

One day in the following February, two English 
war vessels appeared in the harbor of Valparaiso. 
The Essex was lying quietly at anchor, and many 
of her crew were on shore. 

The British vessels bore down upon the Essex 
in a very hostile manner. Captain Porter was 
afraid they would attack him. They had no right 
to do this, for Chili was not at war with either 
England or America. 

One of these British vessels was a frigate called 
the Phoebe. The other was a sloop named the 
Cherub. The Phoebe approached the Essex until 
she was within fifteen feet of her side. 

Captain Porter, standing on the deck, hailed, 
saying: ''If you touch a single yardarm, I shall 
board you instantly! " The Phoebe passed by with 
no reply. 

After this, the British vessels anchored at the 
entrance of the harbor. They could thus keep the 
Essex a prisoner. 

The. vessels remained in this position for several 
weeks. On the 28th of March, a furious gale 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j . r 



sprang up. The cables of the Essex gave way, 
and she began to drift out toward the Enghsh 
vessels. Captain Porter now made a desperate 
effort to escape. He set all sails and made for 
the open sea. 

Suddenly something snapped. The main top- 
mast came crashing down, carrying sails, rigging, 
and some of the crew into the water. In this dis- 
abled condition escape was impossible. The Essex 
was driven toward the shore and was finally 
brought to anchor within pistol shot of the 
beach. 

The Essex had but four guns that would shoot 
as far as the cannon of the English. The Phoebe 
and the Cherub took a position out of range of 
nearly all the Essex guns, and then poured broad- 
side after broadside into the unfortunate vessel. 

Captain Porter and his gallant crew fought 
against these odds until one hundred and twenty- 
four of the men had been killed or wounded. 
Then the Essex surrendered. 

During all this dreadful battle there was no 
braver officer than the little midshipman, David 



146 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



Farragut. Sometimes he was carrying messages 
for the captain; again, he was bringing powder 
for the guns. 

Once when going down the hatchway a wounded 
man fell upon him. David barely escaped being 
crushed to death. 

Captain Porter was so pleased with his conduct 
that he mentioned his bravery in his official dis- 
patches to the government. 

After the surrender the wounded were removed 
to shore. David offered his services to the sur- 
geons. He worked early and late, preparing 
bandages and waiting upon the injured men. 

In speaking of this afterward, he said, " I never 
earned Uncle Sam's money so faithfully." 

The British put all the American prisoners on 
board an unarmed vessel, and made them promise 
that they would not take up arms against the 
English until they had been exchanged for an 
equal number of English prisoners. 

After this the Americans were allowed to sail 
for the United States. They arrived in the harbor 
of New York on July 7. 18 14. 



THE STORY OF A DM IRA L FARRAG U T. j ^ ^ 



IV. — The Trip on the Mediterranean. 

Although a prisoner of war, David Farragut was 
glad to get back to the United States. 

While waiting to be exchanged he attended a 
school in Chester, Pennsylvania. 

It was a strange school. The pupils had no 
books. The teacher, Mr. Neif, told them the 
things he wished them to learn, and the boys 
wrote them down in notebooks. They would 
sometimes be examined on these notes to see 
whether they had paid proper attention. 

In the afternoons, Mr. Neif would take the boys 
for long walks. They made collections of minerals 
and plants, and learned many curious and useful 
facts about them. 

Mr. Neif, who had been a soldier, gave the boys 
military drill. He also taught them to swim and 
climb. 

David Farragut was not a handsome boy. But 
people liked to look at him, for his face was honest 
and good. He was short for his years, but he 
stood very erect, and held his head as high as he 
could. 



148 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRA GUT. 



' ' I cannot afford to lose any of my inches, " 
he said. 

In November, 18 14, the British and the Amer- 
icans made an exchange of prisoners, and David 
Farragut was now free to return to the navy. 
As a treaty of peace was made a few weeks 
later, he did not have to serve against the British. 

During the next two years, David made but one 
short cruise. He was quartered, the rest of the 
time, on a receiving ship. This is a vessel sta- 
tioned at the navy yards, where recruits are first 
received into the service. 

In the spring of 18 16, David went on a cruise 
that proved to be most interesting. He was 
ordered to the Washington, a beautiful new ship 
of seventy-four guns. This was to carry the 
American minister to Naples, in Italy. 

While waiting at Annapolis for the minister they 
had a visit from the President, James Madison. 
Among his suite was Captain Porter, who was 
then a naval commissioner. He came to say 
good-bye to David. 

The voyage across the Atlantic was one to be 



THE STOR V OF A DMIRAL FA RRA GUT. j ^^ 



remembered. The captain was very proud of his 
"crack" ship. He kept the crew so busy cleaning 
decks and scouring ' 'bright work, " that sometimes 
they had no food for eight hours at a time. Once 
all the crew were kept on deck for several nights 
in succession. 

During the summer months, the Washington 
cruised about the Mediterranean, stopping at 
many places. This was a wonderful experience 
for David. He visited the bay of Naples. The 
great volcano, Vesuvius, was then in eruption, 
and the sight of this alone was worth the voyage. 

While in the bay, the king of Naples and the 
emperor of Austria made a visit to the WasJihig- 
ton, and a grand display was made to entertain 
them. 

The Washington stopped at the coast towns of 
Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, and finally wintered in 
a Spanish harbor. The Spaniards were very kind 
to the captain. They allowed him to use their 
navy yard, in which to refit his vessel. 

During all this cruise, the boys on the ship were 
taught by the chaplain, Mr. Folsom. 



J j-Q THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



He was very fond of David, and in the autumn 
of 1817, when he was appointed consul to Tunis, 
he wrote to the captain of the Washington for 
permission to take David with him. 

This request was granted, and David spent a 
dehghtful year with his old friend. He studied 
mathematics and English literature. He also 
learned to speak French and Italian. 

He and Mr. Folsom took many trips about the 
Mediterranean, and these were of great benefit to 
him. In October, 18 18, he returned to the Wash- 
ington, in which he cruised for another year. 



V. — War with the Pirates. 

While David Farragut was at a port in the 
Mediterranean, he was summoned to America to 
take his examination for the lieutenancy. He was 
then eighteen years of age. 

In November, 1820, he arrived in New York, 
where he passed his examination successfully. He 
did not receive any appointment, however, for some 
time, as there were no vacancies in the navy. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j r j 



The next two years were spent with the Porter 
family at Norfolk, Virginia. 

In 1822, he sailed for a short time on a sloop of 
war, that was cruising about the Gulf of Mexico. 
On his return to America, he learned that Captain 
Porter was fitting out a fleet to cruise against the 
pirates of the West Indies. 

These robbers had small, fast-sailing ships. 
They would attack unarmed merchant vessels, 
seize all the valuables they could carry away, and 
destroy the remainder. Sometimes they killed 
the crew; at other times they put them ashore on 
some desert island. 

For years, Americans and English had been 
waging war against these pirates, but without suc- 
cess. With their small boats the robbers would 
run into the shallow bays and creeks, where no 
other vessels could follow them; and so they had 
grown bolder and bolder every year. 

Ever since peace had been declared with Eng- 
land, Captain Porter had been a commissioner of 
the navy, and had made no sea voyages. But 
now he offered to resign his position, and drive 



J J- ^ THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. 



the pirates from the sea. He said he would do 
this upon one condition. He must have a fleet of 
small vessels that could follow the pirates into 
their lurking places. 

The government accepted his ofl'er, and gave 
him orders to fit out such a fleet as he chose. 
He bought eight small schooners similar to those 
used by the pirates. To these were added five 
large rowboats or barges, which were called the^^^ 
Mosquito Fleet. David Farragut was assigned^P! 
to one of the vessels named the Greyhound. |J 

This fleet of Captain Porter's had many encoun- 
ters with the pirates. At one time, when the 
Greyhound was ofl" the southern coast of Cuba, 
some of the crew went on shore to hunt game, 
and were fired upon from the thicket by pirates. 
The Americans returned this fire without effect, 
and then went back to their ship. 

Young Farragut was ordered to take a party of 
men to capture the pirates, and at three o'clock the 
next morning they set out in the barges. 

After landing, David and his men tried to go 
around to a point at the rear of the place wherc^ 



THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j r 



the pirates were supposed to be. This was no easy 
thing to do. They had to cut their way through 
thickets of cactus, thorny bushes, and traihng 
vines. Their shoes were cut from their feet 
with walking over the sharp rocks; and the heat 
was so intense that some of the men fainted. 

At last they found the pirate camp. It was 
deserted. The robbers had seen the GreyJionnd 
and the barges, and had fled to some other hiding 
place. In the camp, which was protected by 
several cannon, there were some houses a hundred 
feet long. There was also an immense cave filled 
with all kinds of goods taken from plundered 
vessels. 

The sailors burned the houses, and carried the 
plunder and cannon to their boats. The prize 
that David himself took away was a monkey, 
which he had captured after a fierce struggle. 

As the sailors were returning to their boats, they 
heard a great noise in the thicket behind them, and 
thought that the pirates had come back to attack 
them. David Farragut made a speech to his men. 
He urged them to stand their ground and fight 



_ • THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA G UT, 



bravely. Imagine their surprise and amusement 
at finding their foes to be thousands of land crabs, 
making their way through the briars! 

This was only one of many encounters that the 
Mosquito Fleet had with the pirates. Through all 
the time, the American sailors suffered much from 
yellow fever and exposure. David Farragut after- 
ward said: "I never owned a bed during my cruise 
in the West Indies, but lay down to rest wherever 
I found the most comfortable berth. " 

The pirates were finally driven from the seas. 
Their boats were burned or captured, and their 
camps destroyed. 

While on this cruise, David got leave of absence 
to visit his sister in New Orleans. She was the 
only one of the family still living at the old home. 
It was hard for her to recognize in the stranger 
the boy who had left home so long before. 

When young Farragut was on his way to the 
north and within sight of Washington, he was 
taken ill with yellow fever. He had nursed many 
a poor sailor, and had hitherto escaped the disease. 

After a short time spent in a Washington hos- 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



155 



pital, he was able to return home. Soon after- 
ward, he was married in Norfolk, Virginia, to 
Susan Marchant. But it was nearly two years 
before he was entirely well, and strong enough 
to resume his duties in the navy. In the mean- 
while, he and his bride spent much time with the 
family of Captain Porter. 



VI. — From Lieutenant to Captain. 

In August, 1825, David Farragut at last received 
his commission as lieutenant. He was ordered 
on board the ship Bi-andywine, the vessel which 
was to have the honor of taking the Marquis de 
Lafayette to France. 

This great Frenchman had always been a warm 
friend of the United States. Fifty years before, 
he had taken a leading part in the Revolutionary 
War, and had been one of General Washington's 
most trusted officers. 

After the Revolution, he had returned to his 
home in sunny France. He had always loved 
America, and in his old age he felt that he 



156 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. 




would like to visit again the great nation which 
he had helped to establish. So in 1824, though 
old and gray, he had come back to America as 
the honored guest of the nation. 

From one end of the land to the other, his 
tour had been one grand ovation. 
And now that he was to return 
home, the good ship Brandy- 
wine was detailed to carry him 
safely across the Atlantic. 

The voyage was an unevent- 
ful one for Lieutenant Farragut. 
After landing Lafayette in 
France, the Bi^andyivine cruised about the shores 
of England and in the waters of the Mediterranean 
for about a year. 

On his return to America, Lieutenant Farragut 
found that his wife was in very poor health, and 
he obtained leave of absence from the navy, in 
order that he might take her to a famous doctor 
in New Haven, Connecticut. 

During his stay in that city, he regularly at- 
tended the lectures at Yale College, for David 



LAFAYETTE. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FARRAGUT j r y 



Farragut never wasted an opportunity for self- 
improvement. When his wife was better, they 
returned to Norfolk, where he was placed in charge 
of the receiving ship in the navy yard. 

Most of the boys on the ship were uneducated 
and did not know one letter from another. Lieu- 
tenant Farragut therefore established a school on 
board. This proved to be of great value to these 
poor boys. 

One boy had run away from home to avoid 
going to school, and he was determined that he 
would not study. It was only after many severe 
punishments that he was conquered. When once 
started in the right direction, he learned rapidly. 

One day, seven years afterward, a fine-looking, 
well-dressed man stopped David Farragut on the 
street. On being asked his name, the stranger 
rephed, "I have grown probably a foot since we 
parted, but do you not remember the boy who 
once gave you so much trouble ? " 

"Oh yes," said Farragut, ''but I should never 
have recognized him in you." 

' ' Nevertheless, " said the stranger, ' ' I am the 



158 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



same, and am ready to acknowledge you the 
greatest benefactor and friend I ever had in this 
world of trouble. " 

After leaving the receiving ship, Lieutenant 
Farragut spent the next ten years in short cruises 
along the South American coast and about the 
Gulf of Mexico. During all this time his wife was 
an invalid, and her health continued to fail until 
her death in 1840. 

For two years before her death, Lieutenant 
Farragut was at home on leave of absence. He 
could then be constantly with her and wait upon 
her. 

In speaking of his devotion to his wife, a lady in 
Norfolk said: "When Lieutenant Farragut dies, 
every woman in the city should bring a stone, and 
build for him a monument reaching to the 
skies. " 

In 1 84 1 promotion came to Farragut, and he 
received a commission as commander in the navy. 

In 1845, the state of Texas was annexed to the 
United States. This brought about a dispute 
with Mexico concerning the southwestern bound- 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



159 



ary of the state, and the result was a short war, 
in which the Americans were victorious. 

Commander Farragut was very anxious to serve 
his country in this Mexican War, and wrote many 
letters to the Navy Department, asking for the 
command of a ship. For a long time he waited 
in vain. When, at last, a vessel was assigned to 
him, it was too late for him to do his country any 
service. The war was about over, nda there was 
no more work for the navy to do. 

From 1850 until 1852, he was employed in 
Washington, drawing up a book of regulations 
for the navy. As when in New Haven he had 
attended the lectures 
of Yale College, so 
now he attended 
those of the Smith- 
sonian Institution. 

'' I have made it 
a rule of my life to 
do all things with a 
view to the possible future. You cannot comie 
away from, such lectures without being wiser than 




SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



6o 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



when you went in," he said. When the book of 
regulations was finished, he went back to the navy 
yard at Norfolk, where he gave a series of lectures 
on gunnery to the officers. 

About this time, England and France were at 
war with Russia. Farragut applied to Congress 
for permission to visit the English and French 
fleets engaged in this war. He wished to see 
whether he could learn of any improvements that 
could be made in the American navy. 

But Congress had other work for him to do. 
There was to be a new navy yard built on the 
Pacific coast, at San Francisco. This would be a 
difficult task, and one requiring the services of a 
man having great knowledge and experience. No 
one was better fitted to undertake it than the 
lieutenant who had been so eager to make use of 
every opportunity for improvement. 

In August, 1854, he was accordingly sent to 
California. Some time before this, he had mar- 
ried a second wife, Virginia Loyall, of Norfolk, and 
she accompanied him to the Pacific coast. There 
were then no railroads across the great western 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



l6l 



plains, and they went by ship to the isthmus of 
Panama. After crossing the isthmus, they em- 
barked upon a coasting vessel, and sailed to San 
Francisco. 

Commander Farragut spent four years in laying 
the foundations of what is to-day the great navy 
yard on Mares Island, about thirty miles from 
San Francisco. 

Before this work was completed he was promoted 
to the rank of captain. This was, at that time, the 
highest rank in the United States navy. 

In July, 1858, Captain Farragut returned home. 
He was given, at once, the command of the Brook- 
lyn. It had been ten years since he had been on 
a war vessel, and he found many changes. His 
ship had steam power as well as sails. It was 
one of the first steam war vessels built for the 
navy. 

The arrangement of the guns was the same as 
in the old sailing sloops. But they were much 
larger, and of different shape. Explosive shells 
were used instead of solid cannon balls. 

The Brooklyn cruised for two years in the Atlan- 



l62 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



tic and the Gulf of Mexico. While on this cruise, 
Captain Farragut again visited New Orleans, for 
he wished to see his brother who was on duty at 
the naval station there. A sorrowful welcome 
awaited him, however, for his brother had died 
just before his arrival. The captain sadly returned 
to his ship, and soon afterward sailed home to 
Norfolk. 



VII. — The Question of Allegiance. 

In 1 86 1, at the beginning of the Civil War, the 
United States navy had but ninety vessels of all 
kinds. Twenty-one of these were not fit for serv- 
ice. Only eleven of those in commission were in 
American waters. The rest, which were scattered 
all over the world, were recalled at once. 

Some of those in far away ports were com- 
manded by southern captains, and it would take 
them several months to reach America. 

It was feared that they would take their vessels 
into southern ports, and turn them over to the 
Confederate government. These fears, however, 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. ^^^ 



were groundless, for all the vessels were safely 
brought into northern ports. With few exceptions, 
all the naval officers were loyal to the United 
States. 

Of all these naval officers, none was more loyal 
than Captain Farragut. In his home in Virginia, 
he had watched the growing troubles with a sad 
heart. He was a southerner by birth, and his most 
tender ties were in Virginia. It was there that he 
had spent many years with the Porter family, and 
there he had numerous friends. It was there, also, 
that he had married and made his home. 

He knew that, should war break out, he would be 
called upon to choose between his friends in the 
South, and his government in the North. 

"God forbid," he said, "that I should have to 
raise my hand against the South." These very 
words showed that his decision had been made. 

He felt that he owed his first allegiance to the 
United States government, which had given him 
his education, employment, and rank. He could 
not take up arms against the flag of his country. 
It was under this flag that he had received his first 



164 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



commission as midshipman. In that proud mo- 
ment he had taken his oath to die in its defense. 

On the ocean, he had seen the proudest colors 
lowered to the victorious stars and stripes. At 
Valparaiso, he had stood on the bloody deck of 
the Essex, and had seen men give their lives in 
order that the flag should not be hauled down. 
He had traveled from ocean to ocean, and had 
seen the star spangled banner respected by all 

nations. 

For some weeks before the actual beginning of 
war, there was much excitement in Norfolk. Every 
day the men met together in the stores to talk 
over the latest news, and there were many lively 
discussions among them. In these meetings, Cap- 
tain Farragut boldly asserted his loyalty to the 
government, and this caused him the loss of many 
of his friends. 

One morning, when in discussion with some 
officers, one of them said to him, ''A person of 
your sentiments cannot live in Norfolk. " 

' ' Well, then, " he calmly replied, ' ' I can live 
somewhere else." 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. ^ /^ r 



He felt that the time for action had come. He 
went home at once, and told his wife that he was 
going to * ' stick to the flag, " and that they must 
move to the North. 

With sad hearts, they sailed away from Norfolk. 

They went to New York, and made their home 
on the Hudson, in a town called Hastings. 

Even there. Captain Farragut met with a cold 
reception. The people were suspicious of the 
southern officer who had come to live among them. 
They did not consider the great sacrifice that he 
had m.ade in leaving home and friends. 

Determined to do his duty, he wrote to offer his 
services to the government. Congress could not, 
at once, accept them. No minor position could be 
given to Captain Farragut; it must be one full of 
responsibility. 

It was not long, however, until the government 
had need of his services. The Mississippi River 
separated two large sections of the southern 
states, and its control was of the greatest impor- 
tance to both the North and the South. 

At the beginning of the war, all the river from 



i66 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf, was controlled by the 
South. The capture of the upper forts in this 
section was first attempted by the North. 

Large armies marched against them by land, 
and a fleet of river gunboats sailed down from the 
north to assist them. These gunboats were river 
steamers which the government had covered with 
plates of iron and armed with cannon. 

While the northern river forts were thus being at- 
tacked, an expedition was planned to capture the 
fortifications near the river's mouth. 

The strongest of these were Fort Jackson and 
Fort St. Philip. These were between New Or- 
leans and the Gulf of Mexico, and their capture 
would give New Orleans to the North. This was 
considered a very important undertaking. 

After much discussion, the Navy Department 
decided that Captain Farragut was best fitted to 
command this expedition. So Commander David 
D. Porter was sent to Hastings to talk the matter 
over with him. This commander was the son of 
the Captain Porter who had adopted David Farra- 
gut when a boy. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



167 



When Captain Farragut heard of the proposed 
expedition he was very enthusiastic. He hurried at 
once to Washington, where he was appointed com- 
mander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squad- 
ron. This was in January, 1862. His orders 
were to capture Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and 
take New Orleans. 

A few weeks before this an event took place 
which came near making serious trouble for the 
United States. The Confederate government had 
appointed two commissioners, John Slidell and 
James Mason, to go to England to see if they 
could not get help from that country. 

As it would be dangerous for them to sail in a 
Confederate vessel, they went to Havana, Cuba, 
where they took passage in an English vessel 
named the Trent. 

Although they had tried to do this very secretly. 
Captain Wilkes, commanding a warship of the 
United States, heard about it, and determined to 
capture these men, if possible. So he pursued 
the Trent and obliged her to stop. 

The Confederate commissioners refused to leave 



i68 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FARRAGUT. 



the Tre7it, and, therefore, Captain Wilkes sent an 
armed force on board and carried them off. He 
then took them to Boston harbor, where they were 
imprisoned in a fort of the United States. 

This act caused great indignation in England, 
and it was only through the prompt and wise 
action of President Lincoln and Congress that 
war was averted. An apology was made and the 
Confederate commissioners were allowed to pro- 
ceed on their voyage without further molestation. 



VIII. — The Capture of New Orleans. 

On the 2d of February, 1862, Captain Farragut 
sailed from Hampton Roads in his flagship, the 
Hartford. This was one of the new sloops of war 
having both steam and sails. 

All the vessels of this expedition were to meet 
at Ships Island, about one hundred miles from 
the mouth of the Mississippi. When Captain 
Farragut arrived there on February 20th, he found 
only a part of his fleet awaiting him. The other 
vessels arrived one by one. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



169 



This was the most powerful squadron that had 
ever been under an American commander. It 
consisted of steam sloops, gunboats, and mortar 
boats, forty-eight vessels in all. 

An army of fifteen thousand men was at hand 
to assist Captain Farragut. This army had been 
brought from the North on transports, and was 
under the 
command o f 
General Ben- 
jamin F. But- 
fer. 

In the chan- 
nel, at the 
mouth of the 
Missis sippi, 

were heavy mud banks, made of deposits brought 
down by the stream. To take the large vessels 
over this bar was Captain Farragut's first great 
task. The water was so shallow that the keels 
of the ships would sometimes stick in the mud, 
and then it was with the greatest of difficulty that 
they could be hauled off. . 




THE HARTFORD. 



J ^ Q THE S TOR V OF ADMIRA L FA RRA G UT 



It was the i8th of April before all the vessels 
were in the river and ready to attack the forts; 
and in the meanwhile, a great naval battle had 
been fought in other waters. 

The Confederates had captured the Norfolk 
navy yard, and with it the United States vessel 
Merrimac, which was there at the time. They 
removed the masts of this vessel, and then 
fitted her with an iron prow, and built sloping 
sides over the deck, covering them with iron rails 
laid closely together side by side. 

Five of the best Northern war vessels lay in the 
bay outside of the harbor. 

On March 8th, 1862, the Merrimac attacked 
this fleet. She drove her iron prow straight 
through the side of the CMmbe^dand. This vessel 
sank almost immediately, and but few of the men 
were saved. 

Then the Merrimac attacked the Coiig7'esSy 
drove her ashore, and set her on fire with red hot 
shot. Meanwhile, broadside after broadside had 
been fired at the Merrimac; but the shot bounded 
harmlessly from her sloping iron sides. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j ^ j 



Night came on, and before attempting to 
destroy the other three ships, the black monster 
waited for the dayhght. 

There was consternation all through the North. 
How could a stop be made to this fearful work 
of the Merri7nac? There was no telling what she 
might do on the morrow. 

That same night there streamed 
into Chesapeake Bay a queer look- 
ing little vessel which had been 
built by a famous mechanic, Cap- 
tain John Ericsson. She was 
named the Mojiitor, She had a 
low, flat deck, pointed at both 
ends. In the center was a round, revolving turret. 
The vessel was completely plated over with iron, 
and in the turret were two enormous guns, larger 
than any that had ever been used before. 

On the morning of March 9th, when the Mer- 
rUnac steamed out to finish her work of destruc- 
tion, a stupendous cannon ball came thundering 
against her black side. As the turret of the little 
Mo7iito7' swung round, there came another and 




CONFEDERATE FLAG. 



J « 2 THE S TOR Y 01' A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. 



another, — such a battering as never ship's side had 
felt before that day. 

The broadsides returned by the Mer^^imac fell 
harmlessly on the flat deck and iron turret of the 
Monitor, 

This battle lasted for nearly three hours. 
Neither vessel was injured to any extent. Finally 
the Merrimac withdrew, leaving the Monitor in 
possession of the bay. 

In one respect, this was the most wonderful 
battle ever fought upon the water. It showed to 
all the nations of the world that new navies must 
be built. In one day all the war-ships in the world 
had become old-fashioned. The days for wooden 
war vessels were over. 

Let us now return to Captain Farragut. As I 
have said, by the i8th of April he had succeeded 
in taking all his vessels over the bar of the Missis- 
sippi. But still greater difficulties were ahead of 
him. 

Before he could capture New Orleans, he must 
pass the two forts, Jackson and St. Philip, on 
opposite banks of the river. First of all, however, 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



173 




he must break through a 
barricade which was below 
the forts. This reached 
from shore to shore, and 
was made of old hulks of 
vessels and cypress logs, 
fastened together with huge 
iron chains. 

Should the barricade be 
broken and the forts 
passed, there was still a 
Confederate fleet to be 
overcome. This consisted 
of fifteen ships, gunboats, 



% 

m 



MAP OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 



^ THE S TOR Y OF ADMIRA L FA RRA G UT. 



and steam rams similar to the Merrimac, They 
were drawn up across the river above the forts. 
Captain Farragut was not discouraged by any of 
these things, but began at once to carry out his 
plans. 

All along the banks of the river were thick 
woods. The forts themselves were almost hid- 
den by the trees. Captain Farragut stationed 
his mortar boats close to the banks, below the 
chain barricade; and, in order that they might be 
better hidden from the forts, large branches of 
trees had been tied to the tops of the masts. 

This mortar flotilla was commanded by Captain 
Porter. The mortars could throw thirteen-inch 
shells for a distance of two miles. 

Captain Farragut's plan was to send these mor- 
tar boats forward to bombard the forts, while the 
other vessels, breaking through the chains, should 
sail boldly up the river. 

On the morning of April i8th, the shells from 
the mortars began to rain down upon the forts. 
For six days and nights this firing never ceased. 
The answering shots from the forts did but little 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMtRA L FA RRA GUT. , ^ - 



harm. The Confederates could not take aim at 
boats which they could not see. 

Meanwhile, two of Captain Farragut's gunboats 
crept up the river at night, and broke a passage 
through the chain barricade. Then, on the night 
of April 23d, the entire fleet sailed through this 
opening and boldly attacked the forts. 

The whole river was at once a scene of con- 
fusion. Every gun, both of the forts and of the 
Confederate fleet, which had hastened down the 
river, was sending shot and shell into the Union 
fleet. 

The Confederates piled every kind of inflam- 
mable material upon huge rafts, set them on fire, 
and sent them floating down the river. They 
hoped, in this way, to burn the invading fleet. 
The river was a blaze of light. The din from the 
cannon was terrible. 

But Captain Farragut and his vessels kept 
steadily on. They passed the forts, and destroyed 
or captured every vessel in the Confederate fleet. 
This was accomplished with the loss of but one 
ship of the Union squadron. 



176 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



When the news of this victory reached New 
Orleans, the whole city was thrown into wild con- 
fusion. Men, women, and children rushed to the 
levee and set fire to the goods there. 

Everything that would burn was set on fire, and 

sent down the river to meet 

the victorious fleet that was 

coming. Ships loaded with 

burning cotton, and even a 

half-finished ram like the 

]\Icrrimac floated down 

stream, a mass of flames. 

About noon on April 

25th, the fleet rounded the 

bend of the river, and came 

in sight of the city. That 

same morning, the mayor of New Orleans had 

ordered the state flag of Louisiana to be hoisted 

upon the city hall. 

Captain Farragut demanded that this should 
be hauled down. He also ordered that the stars 
and stripes should be raised over the buildings 
belonging to the United States government. 




GENERAL B. F. BUTLER. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j - - 



Meanwhile, Commander Porter with his mortar 
boats had been steadily bombarding Fort Jackson 
and Fort St. Philip. On April 28th, these forts 
surrendered, and the Union forces took possession. 

On the following day, the flag of the United 
States was floating over the city hall of New 
Orleans. General Butler and his troops took pos- 
session of the city on the first of May. 

On the iith of July, on the recommendation of 
President Lincoln, Congress passed a resolution 
thanking Captain Farragut for what he had done; 
and a few days later he was further rewarded by 
being raised to the rank of rear-admiral. 



IX. — The Battle of Mobile Bay. 

After the capture of New Orleans, Admiral 
Farragut was ordered at once to proceed up the 
river. He was to pass, or to attack and capture, 
all the Confederate forts between New Orleans 
and Memphis. 

But for many reasons, he thought it unwise to 
attempt this expedition. 



178 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



The increasing shallowness of the river would 
make it almost impossible to use his best sea- 
going vessels. The upper forts were located on 
high bluffs, and it would be difficult to attack them 

from the river. 

Admiral Farragut knew 
that, should he be able to 
pass these forts, or even to 
silence their guns, he could 
not hold them without a 
large land force. But he 
was too good a soldier to 
do anything in disobedience 
to orders. 

In the face of all these 
difficulties, he passed and repassed the forts at 
Vicksburg and Port Hudson. He made it plain 
to the Confederates that none of their batteries 
on the Mississippi could stop the movements of 
his fleet. But he found, as he had expected, that 
the forts could not be held until armies came to his 
assistance. 

A large land force under General Grant besieged 




GENERAL N. P. BANKS. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



79 



Vicksburg until it surrendered on July 4, 1863. 
Five days later, an army under General Nathaniel 
P. Banks succeeded in capturing Port Hudson. 

These were the last Confederate strongholds on 
the Mississippi. Their cap- 
ture gave to the Union 
forces the entire control of 
the river. 

The command of the 
Mississippi squadron was 
given to David D. Porter, 
who had likewise been re 
warded with the rank of rear 
admiral. He took charge 
of all the river boats of the 

fleet, while Farragut, with most of the sea-going 
vessels, sailed for the Atlantic coast. 

These vessels were all in need of repairs. His 
flagship, the HaiHfoi^d, which was in the best con- 
dition of all, had two hundred and forty scars from 
shot and shell. 

After the loss of New Orleans, Mobile was the 
best Gulf port left to the Confederates. This city 




ADMIRAL DAVIU I). I'ORTKR. 



i8o 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FAR RAG UT. 



stands at the head of the- broad, shallow bay of 
Mobile, thirty miles from the Gulf. 

The entrance to the bay is very narrow, and it 
was protected by two strong forts, — Fort Mor- 
gan on one side, and Fort Gaines on the other. 

Admiral Farragut was ordered to capture these 
forts. This would prevent the South from using 
the port of Mobile. 

On January i8th, 1864, his ships having been 
repaired. Captain Farragut sailed again into the 
Gulf of Mexico. 

He was anxious to make the attack early in the 
spring, but it was August before his fleet was 
ready. 

In the meantime, the Confederates had made 
their fortifications stronger. The only channel 
through which the vessels could pass was near 
Fort Morgan. The Confederates strengthened 
this fort with every defense possible. 

A double line of torpedoes, or submarine mines, 
was stretched across the channel. Above this, lay 
the Confederate fieet. One of these vessels, the 
Tennessee, was a huge iron ram like the Merriinac. 



THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L FA RRA GUT. j g j 



The squadron of Admiral Farragut was a strong 
one. There were twenty-four wooden war vessels 
and four ironclads like the Afonitor. 

On the night of August 4th, every preparation 
was made for the attack. The seamen, with 
determined faces, gave their messages and keep- 
sakes to their messmates, for they hardly expected 
to come out of this fray alive. 

Admiral Farragut, himself, made all his arrange- 
ments for the worst, though hoping for the best. 
He wrote to his wife, '' I am going into Mobile in 
the morning, if God is my leader, as I hope He 
is, and in Him I place my trust. If He thinks it 
is the place for me to die, I am ready to submit to 
His will. God bless and preserve you, if any- 
thing should happen to me. " 

At sunrise the fleet moved steadily toward Fort 
Morgan, the stars and stripes flying from every 
masthead. 

- The four ironclads were sent ahead, close to the 
forts. The wooden war vessels followed, lashed 
together in pairs. This was done so that if one 
vessel became disabled it could be towed by the 



X 



l82 



THE STOR V OF A DMIRA L FA RRA G UT. 



other. Farragut wished to lead the fleet in his 
flagship, the Hartfo7'd, but his officers dissuaded 
him, and the Brooklyn went first, the Hartford fol- 
lowing. 

The admiral climbed up in the rigging, where he 
could command a view of the entire fleet. As the 
shells from the forts began to fall about the ves- 
sels, he chmbed higher and higher, in order to see 
above the smoke. 

Fearing that a shot would cut the ropes, one of 
his officers climbed up to him and wound a rope 
around his body. The end of this was secured to 
the mast. 

The ironclad Tecumsch was now leading the 
fleet. Suddenly there was a muffled explosion. 
The stern of the Teatmsch rose out of the water 
and she plunged bow foremost to the bottom of 
the channel. 

At this, the Brooklyn stopped, and with reversed 
engines began to back water. Admiral Farragut 
signaled, and asked, "What's the trouble?" 
''Torpedoes," was the reply. 

This was the critical moment of the battle. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



The backing of the Brooklyn caused confusion 
among the vessels following so closely upon each 
other. There was tremendous cheering and 
firing from the Confederates. They were sure 
that the victory was theirs. 

A signal was made to the Brooklyn to go ahead, 
but she remained motionless. 

What should be done? To remain there, under 
the guns of the fort, with the other vessels coming 
up behind, was out of the question. Ahead lay 
the dreaded line of torpedoes. Evervthing de- 
pended upon prompt decision. 

Admiral Farragut ordered the Hartford to go 
ahead, ''full speed." She passed the Brooklyn, 
and made straight for the mines that had sunk the 
Tecnmseh. As they crossed the line of torpedoes, 
the sailors could hear them grating against the 
hull of the vessel. None of them exploded, how- 
ever, and the Hartford passed the fatal line in 
safety. 

The effect of this daring deed was wonderful. 
Men sprang to the guns, and the air was filled 
with the roar of cannon. The other vessels all 



1 84 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



followed the Haiiford across the torpedoes, into 
the bay. They then attacked the Confederate 
fleet, and soon either captured or destroyed all but 
the ram Tennessee. This vessel had taken refuge 

under the guns of Fort 
Morgan. 

Admiral Farragut then 
anchored about four miles 
up the bay. While his 
men were having break- 
fast the iron ram steamed 
out boldly from the fort 
to attack the whole fleet. 
Admiral Buchanan, the 
commander of the Con- 
federate fleet, was a brave officer. Not until after 
a fierce combat, which lasted over an hour, was he 
forced to surrender the Tennessee. 

This ended the battle of Mobile Bay. '' It was 
one of the hardest earned victories of my life, 
and the most desperate battle I ever fought since 
the days of the Essex, " said Farragut. 

Not quite three hours had passed from the time 




ADMIRAL BUCHANAN. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



185 



that Fort Morgan fired its first gun until the 
Tennessee surrendered. 

With the Confederate fleet destroyed, and 
Mobile Bay in possession of Farragut, the forts 
were soon captured. 

While Farragut had been 
winning these victories in 
the Gulf, a very brilliant 
naval battle had been 
fought off the coast of 
France. 

During the whole of the 
war, England had allowed 
the Confederates to fit out 
armed cruisers in her harbors, and to send them 
out to prey upon the United States commerce. 
The most famous of these cruisers ' was the 
Alabama, commanded by Captain Raphael 
Semmes. For two years this vessel had roamed 
the sea, burning and destroying nearly forty 
United States merchantmen, but always eluding 
the war vessels. 

At last, in June, 1864, the United States war 




CAPTAIN RAPHAEL SEMMES. 



1 86 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



vessel Kearsarge discovered this enemy in the 
harbor of Cherbourg, France. As it would have 
been against the laws of nations to fight a battle 
in the harbor, the Kearsaro-e remained outside to 
prevent the Alabama from getting away. 

Finally on Sunday, June 19th, the Alabama 
suddenly put to sea and attacked the Kearsarge, 
The vessels were evenly matched. 

The battle following was terrific. But the crew 
of the Kearsarge proved to be the better marks- 
men, and after an hour's furious fighting the 
Alabajna suddenly gave a great lurch and plunged 
to the bottom of the ocean. The crew were picked 
up by the Kearsarge and some English vessels 
which happened to be near. 



X. — Well-earned Laurels. 

After the surrender of the forts, Farragut re- 
mained in Mobile Bay until the following Novem- 
ber. His health was suffering from his labors 
and the effects of the southern climate. 

At this time, the Navy Department requested 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



187 



him to take command of an expedition against 
Fort Fisher. This greatly disturbed him, and he 
wrote to the Secretary of the Navy that his 
strength was exhausted. 

*'I am wilhng, " he said, " to do the bidding of 
the government as long as I am able. I fear, how- 
ever, that my health is giving way. I have now 
been down to the Gulf five years out of six, and I 
want rest if it is to be had. " 

When the Secretary of the Navy realized the 
condition of his health. Admiral Farragut was 
granted the much needed furlough. 

Leaving his squadron in charge of an efficient 
officer, he sailed north in November, 1864. As 
his flagship entered New York harbor, it was met 
by a committee of city officials and citizens. 
Enthusiastic crowds greeted him as he landed, and 
a reception in his honor was held at the custom- 
house. 

A few days later, a committee of citizens sent 
him a request to make his home in New York. 
With this request came a gift of $50,000. In 
December, Congress created for him the grade 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT 



of vice-admiral. All these honors were gratefully 
and modestly acknowledged by him. 

In the spring of 1865 peace was declared, and 
Admiral Farragut went for a visit to Norfolk. He 
found that many of his old acquaintances still felt 
very unfriendly towards him for having taken up 
arms against the South. Although this pained him 
deeply, he said that he had never regretted having 
done his duty. 

In 1866, the government gave him the title of 
Admiral. This title made him commander of the 
whole American navy. It was a rank created 
especially for him. The government could give 
him no higher honor. 

In 1867, he was appointed commander of the 
European squadron. Without any request from 
him, the government sent permission for Mrs. 
Farragut to accompany him on this cruise. On 
June 28th, they sailed from New York on the 
steam frigate Franklin. 

This foreign cruise was more like the triumphal 
progress of a king than the official visit of a naval 
commander. He dined with the emperor of 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL FA RR A GUT. 



189 



France and the queen of England. He visited 
the ports of Russia, Holland, and Belgium. He 
sailed again through the blue Mediterranean, vis- 
iting the places he had seen on his former cruise. 
A special excavation of the buried Pompeii was 
made for his benefit. At Malta, a grand recep- 
tion was held in his honor. 

But most of all, he enjoyed a visit to his father's 
Spanish birthplace. This was in the island of 
Minorca, just off the eastern coast of Spain. 

He was to visit the little city on the day before 
Christmas. The news of his coming had spread 
rapidly to all parts of the island, and a general 
holiday had been proclaimed. 

At every village on the way crowds of men and 
women came to meet him and bid him welcome. 
All along the route soldiers had been stationed to 
pay him honor, and give him any assistance that 
he might need. 

Four miles from the city gates he was met by a 
laro^e committee of citizens, and transferred to a 
handsome carriage. 

The city walls, housetops, and balconies were 



J Q Q THE STORY OF A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. 



crowded with men, women, and children. One old 
man, with tears streaming down his face, shouted: 
* ' He is ours ! He is ours ! " 

The admiral was entertained at the mansion of 
one of the prominent citizens. A band of music 
played in the vestibule, while the people came in 
crowds. 

Early the next day, surrounded by an excited 
throng, he was escorted to all the places of interest. 
They finally went to the great cathedral, where 
the organ pealed forth the American national airs. 

This was the last place the admiral visited be- 
fore his return to America. He landed in New 
York, November loth, 1868. 

The following summer, he made a trip to the 
Pacific coast, to visit the navy yard at Mares 
Island. You will remember that, years before, he 
had laid the foundations of this navy yard. 

Returning from San Francisco to the East, he 
was taken very ill in Chicago. By careful nursing 
he was able to resume the journey. But he never 
regained his lost strength, and his health continued 
steadily to fail. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FA RRA GUT. j q j 



The following summer the Navy Department 
placed a steamer at his disposal, and with his 
family he visited Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

This was his last sea voyage. As the ship came 
into harbor, he arose from his sick bed at the 
sound of the salute being fired in his honor. 

Dressed in full uniform, he went on deck. 
Looking up with a sad smile at his flag flying 
from the masthead, he said: "It would be well 
if I died noiv in harness. " 

Shortly after his arrival he wandered on board 
a dismantled sloop, lying at the wharf. He looked 
about the ship, and, as he left her to go ashore, 
he said : ' ' This is the last time I shall ever tread 
the deck of a man of war." 

This proved to be true. On August 14th, 1870, 
surrounded by his family and loving friends, he 
died. He was sixty-nine years old. 

The government sent a steam frigate to take his 
body to New York. On the day of his funeral, 
the whole city was in mourning. The buildings 
were draped in black. Bells were tolled and 
guns fired. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L FA RRA G U T. 



His body was laid in Woodlawn Cemetery. 
Heading the procession was General Grant, then 
the President of the United States. Following 
were many military and naval officers, and thou- 
sands of soldiers. 

The government erected a bronze statue in his 
honor. This is in the national capital, in Farragut 
Square. 

Thus ends the story of the life of America's first 
admiral, the story of a man who won fame and 
glory by constant effort for self-improvement and 
strict adherence to duty. 




MONUMENT TO FARRAGUT AT WASHINGTON. 



THE STORY OF 

ADMIRAL DEWEY 

AND THE NAVY OF 1898 



FOREWORD. 

CAUSES OF THE WAR WITH SPAIN. 

On the 23d of April, 1898, war was declared between the 
United States and Spain. To understand how this came 
about, we must go back a great many years. 

Ever since the island of Cuba was discovered by Colum- 
bus in 1492, the one thought of the Spaniards has been to 
gain wealth from the island without giving anything in 
return. 

For many years, most of the Cubans have been little 
better off than slaves. They have always been very poor 
and have had to do the hard work on the plantations and 
in the cities. At best, they have never been able to make 
much more than enough to pay the taxes imposed upon 
them by the Spanish government. 

The island has been ruled by governors sent out from 
Spain. Many of these have been very bad men whose 
only desire has been to get rich and return home. For a 
long time the Cubans have wished to choose their own 
governors, and they have frequently tried, by force, to 
secure the right to do this. 

195 



iq6 



FOREWORD. 



From 1868 to 1818, there was a rebellion known as the 
''Ten Years' War. " But, one by one, the insurgent bands 
were scattered and their leaders killed. This war left 
Cuba with a heavy debt, and the people poorer than ever. 

The conduct of the Spaniards, after this v/ar, was 
more cruel and oppressive than before. Fifty thousand 
soldiers were sent to the island to preserve peace. The 
people were forced to pay for the support of this army, 
and the taxes were almost unendurable. 

At last, in 1895, some of the Cubans resolved to stand it 
no longer. They formed an army whose watchword was 
'' Cuba Libre," meaning ''Free Cuba," and began another 
war with Spain. 

The Spanish governor. General Campos, tried in vain 
to conquer these insurgents, and was finally recalled to 
Spain. General Weyler, who was sent in his place, proved 
to be a very cruel man. 

He surrounded the larger towns with trenches and 
barbed wire fences, and built wooden forts or blockhouses 
for his soldiers. Into these fortified towns, thousands 
upon thousands of poor country people were driven, their 
homes having been burned and their fields destroyed. 

The sufferings of these poor people were terrible. They 
were huddled together in sheds and huts without the means 
even of obtaining food. Sometimes several families were 
packed into one little palm-leaf hut where they had foul 



FOREWORD. jQ« 



air, foul water, and almost nothing to eat. Thousands of 
men, women, and children died from starvation and dis- 
ease. 

General Weyler hoped by these cruel means to starve 
the insurgents into submission, but the war went on just as 
before. Throughout the island a terrible work of destruc- 
tion was carried on by both the insurgents and the Span- 
iards. Railroads were destroyed, and buildings and 
plantations were burned. 

The people of the United States had heard of all these 
things, but for a long time did not do anything to stop 
them. But when the American consul at Havana, Gen- 
eral Fitzhugh Lee, reported that many Americans were 
among the starving, they could endure it no longer. Food 
and supplies were sent through the Red Cross Society, and 
a little of the suffering was thus relieved. 

Matters grew steadily worse in the island until President 
McKinley felt obliged to warn the Spanish government 
that they must soon end the war. He declared that if 
this was not done, the United States would recognize 
Cuba as an independent country. 

Spain became alarmed at this, and, in October, 1897, 
the cruel Weyler was recalled, and General Blanco was 
sent in his place. This new governor tried to stop the 
war by granting to the Cubans some of the rights they 
demanded. He allowed them to hold some of the offices. 



FOREWORD. 



He released the American political prisoners, and set free 
the starving country people. 

But it was too late. The crops had been destroyed and 
the people could not get a living. The Cuban army would 




THE MAINE. 



not be satisfied with anything less than independence, and 
so the fighting continued. 

At last an event took place which aroused the people of 
the United States to a deeper interest in Cuba than before. 
The United States battleship Maine, commanded by Cap- 
tain C. D. Sigsbee, had been sent on a friendly visit to 
Havana. On the 15th of February, 1898, while lying in 
the harbor, she was destroyed by a fearful explosion. Two 
hundred and sixty-six officers and men were killed. 

President McKinley immediately appointed a committee 
to find out, if possible, the cause of the disaster. These 
men reported that the Maiyie was destroyed by a submarine 
mine ; but they could not find out who had placed it in 
the harbor or who had exploded it. 



FOREWORD. 



199 



There was intense excitement all over the United States 
during this investigation. Senator Proctor and others 
went to Cuba to see for themselves if the reports of the 
suffering there were true. When they came back, they 
told the people what they had seen. Senator John M. 
Thurston made a speech in Congress in which he said : 

''I never saw so pitiful a 
sight as the people at Matan- 
zas. I can never forget the 
hopeless anguish in their eyes. 
They did not ask for alms as 
we went among them. Men, 
women, and children stood 
silent, starving. Their only 
appeal came from their sad 
eyes. 

" The government of Spain 
has not and will not give a 
dollar to save these people, 
the charity of the United States. Think of it ! We are feed- 
ing these citizens of Spain ; we are nursing their sick ; and 
yet there are people who say that it is right to send food, 
but that we must keep hands off. I say that the time has 
come when muskets should go with the food." 

Most of the members of Congress agreed with Senator 
Thurston. On the 19th of April, 1898, they passed a res- 




CAPTAIN SIGSHEE OF THE MAINE. 



They are being helped by 



2QQ FOREWORD. 



olution authorizing President McKinley to use the army 
and navy of the United States to force Spain to abandon 
all claim to the island of Cuba. 

Spain was not willing to give up her control of the 
Cubans, and therefore war was formally declared. It was 
only a few days until actual hostilities began. 

It is the purpose of the following chapters to relate the 
story of the short but decisive struggle which followed. 
In that struggle the navy of the United States bore by far 
the largest share, and it is therefore of the navy and of the 
brave officers who commanded it that we shall have the 
most to say. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY 

AND THE NAVY OF 1898. 

I. — The Battle of Manila. 

On the morning of May i, 1898, in the harbor 
of Manila, one of the most remarkable naval vic- 
tories in the history of the world was won by the 
United States. The Spanish fleet, though superior 
in both men and guns, was entirely destroyed, 
and hundreds of officers and men were made 
prisoners. All this was accomphshed by an 
American squadron under Commodore George 
Dewey, without the loss of a ship or a man. 
The way in which it all came about was as follows: 

When war was declared between the United 

States and Spain, Commodore George Dewey was 

at Hong Kong, China, with that part of our navy 

which was known as the Asiatic squadron. He 

was at once ordered to sail to the Philippines, 

and capture or destroy the Spanish fleet there. 

201 



202 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



These Philippine Islands are about six hundred 
miles southeast of Hong Kong. Their capital and 
largest city is Manila, on the island of Luzon. 
As Commodore Dewey sailed out of the bay at 




MAP OF MANILA BAY. 



*' Keep 



Hong Kong, he signaled to his fleet: 
cool and obey orders. " 

At a little before midnight, on the 30th of April, 
the American vessels in single file, led by the 
flagship Olyinpia, steamed between the forts which 
guarded the entrance to the bay of Manila. 

In order not to be seen from these forts, all the 
lights on the vessels were hidden. Silently and 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



20' 



steadily the vessels moved on, unseen by the 
Spaniards. 

All of the fleet except the Boston and McCulloch 
had passed in safety, when the soot in the smoke- 
stack of the McCulloch caught fire. Instantly 
the guns of one of the 
Spanish batteries were 
turned upon the fleet. The 
Boston and McCtdlocJi re- 
turned the fire, but kept 
on their way and were 
soon out of range, having 
received no injury. 

When day broke, Com- 
modore Dewey found the 
entire Spanish fleet drawn up under the protection 
of the batteries of the Cavite naval station about 
nine miles from the city of Manila. It was com- 
manded by Admiral Patricio Montojo, one of the 
ablest officers in the Spanish service. 

At^ about five o'clock, with the flagship lead- 
ing, the Americans bore down upon the Spanish. 
Suddenly there was a muffled roar, and a sub- 




ADMIRAL MONTOJO. 



2 Q . THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. 



marine mine exploded. But, in the excitement, 
the Spaniards had fired it too soon, and no dam- 
age was done. 

This was soon followed by the explosion of 
another mine, but again the Spaniards had been 
in too great haste, and the Olympia escaped 
uninjured. 

Although Commodore Dewey did not know but 
that many other torpedoes might be in his path, 
he never hesitated. He had been in the battle of 
Mobile Bay with Farragut, when that brave com- 
mander had sailed boldly over a line of torpedoes. 

Soon the guns of the batteries and Spanish fleet 
began to pour a storm of shot and shell at the 
American squadron. But, as yet. Commodore 
Dewey had not fired a gun. 

The American sailors were wild with excite- 
ment. They had been by the guns all night, 
and were eager to begin the fray. Finally Com- 
modore Dewey said quietly to the captain of the 
Olympia: * ' You may fire when ready, Gridley. " 

The flagship was now within range, and sud- 
denly one of the great guns sent an answering 



THE STOR V OF ADMIRAL DEWE V. 20 ^ 



shot. As its echoes went rolhng across the waters, 
every man in the American fleet joined in the 
shout, "Remember the Maine T These words 
were the battle cry at Manila Bay. 

Slowly the American vessels steamed by the 
Spanish squadron in single file, pouring in deadly 
broadsides as they passed. Then turning, they 
retraced their course, drawing a little nearer to 
the shore. This maneuver was repeated five 
times. The marksmanship of the Americans was 
wonderful, and at the end of two hours nearly 
every ship in the Spanish fleet had either been 
sunk or was on fire. 

At seven o'clock Commodore Dewey decided 
to withdraw out of range of the batteries, to 
give his men a rest and breakfast, and find what 
damage had been done to his own fleet. Imagine 
his surprise and joy at finding that not a single 
man had been killed, and that his vessels were 
scarcely injured. 

At eleven o'clock the Americans returned to the 
attack, soon silenced the forts, and burned or cap- 
tured all that remained of the Spanish fleet. 



2o6 



THE STOR V OF ADMTRA L DE WE V. 



As soon as the battle was over, Commodore 
Dewey and his men set to work to care for the 
wounded Spanish sailors. They treated them 
like brothers, doing everything possible for their 
comfort. 

After taking possession of the arsenal at Cavite, 
Commodore Dewey blockaded the port of Manila, 
and awaited further orders from the department 
of war. He knew that if the city of Manila 
could be captured, it would result in the loss, 
by the Spaniards, of the entire Philippine group. 

These islands form one of the largest groups 
in the world, and are so rich and beautiful that 
they are called the ''Pearls of the Ocean." They 
were the most important of the colonial posses- 
sions of Spain. 

When the news of the victory reached the 
United States, there was great rejoicing all over 
the land, and Commodore Dewey was the hero of 
the hour. Congress at once gave him a vote of 
thanks, and promoted him to the rank of rear 
admiral. It also presented him with a beautiful 
sword, and gave a medal to each one of his men. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE Y. 2 Q 7 



11. — The Boyhood of Admiral Dewey. 

Who was this George Dewey who won that 
famous victory in the Bay of Manila ? He was 
a native of Vermont, and had spent the greater 
part of his hfe on the sea with the American 
navy. 

He was born in Montpeher on the day after 
Christmas, 1837. MontpeHer was a pleasant 
place in which to live. There were hills to 
climb, and a pretty little river ran through the 
fields and gardens behind the Dewey home. 
Here George could wade, sail boats, and fish. 

Although he was not fond of books, he never 
tired of Robinson Crusoe. With his sister Mary 
as Friday, he tramped many times over the hills 
playing that they were shipwrecked on an island. 

Sometimes George's love of adventure got him 
into trouble. One day he read how the famous 
Hannibal marched, with an immense army, over 
the Alps in winter. The winters in Vermont are 
very cold, and to the ten-year-old boy the snow- 
covered hills around Montpelier were as good as 



208 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE V. 



the Alps. So, with his sister Mary for an army, 
the youthful Hannibal started on his march. The 
campaign proved to be too severe for faithful 
Mary, and she was sick in bed for a week. 

When about eleven years of age, George was 
sent, one day, on an errand. As it was a long 
distance, he was allowed to take his father's 
horse and buggy, and one of his boy friends for 
company. 

On the way they came to a ford which, though 
usually shallow, was swollen with recent rains. 
When his companion wished to turn back George 
said, ' ' What man has done, man can do, " and 
drove, full speed, into the river. The buggy, 
horse, and boys were soon floundering in the 
rapid current. 

When the top and box of the buggy began 
to float down stream, George never lost his 
presence of mind. Commanding his frightened 
comrade to follow him, he climbed upon the 
horse, and the boys reached the shore in safety. 

When he returned home, George did not try 
to escape punishment, but administered it to him- 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 20Q 



self by going to bed without any supper. But 
when his father came to his room and began to 
scold him, he thought it was a little too much. 
In his lisping voice he rephed: "You ought to 
be thankful that my life wath thpared. " 

But George Dewey did not play all the time. 
His father was a good and wise man, and believed 
that a thorough education was one of the most 
important things of life. He obliged George to go 
to school regularly and conduct himself becom- 
ingly. 

George had an experience in his first school 
which he never forgot. The scholars were an 
unruly set, and they had proved too much for 
several teachers. When, one day, a new master, 
Mr. Pangborn, arrived, the boys began as usual 
to make trouble. George was directed to perform 
some task and he flatly refused. In a moment Mr. 
Pangborn seized him and gave him the worst 
wh^'' ping that he had ever had. 

Nor was this all. When he had finished, Mr. 
Pangborn marched the unruly George home to his 
father, the whole school following in the rear. 



2 J Q THE STOR Y OF A DM1 R A L DE WE V. 



When Dr. Dewey heard the story, he told George 
that if Mr. Pangborn's punishment was not suf- 
ficient, he would administer more. 

This settled the matter of disobedience for 
George. He was too manly a boy not to admire 
his fearless teacher. They grew to be great friends, 
and when Mr. Pangborn started a school of his 
own in Johnson, Vermont, George asked to be 
allowed to attend. This request was granted will- 
ingly. 



III. — Dewey as a Naval Cadet. 

When George was fifteen years old, he was sent 
to a military school at Norwich, Vermont. He 
liked the training so well that he decided to try to 
get an appointment in the Naval Academy at 
Annapolis. 

One day he told one of his school fellows, 
George Spalding, what he intended to do. ' 'Why, 
Dewey, " said Spalding, ''that is what I am ^-^ing 
to do myself." Spalding received the covete ^ 
appointment, but as he was not able to go, George 
went in his place. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DEWEY. ^W 



George Spalding became a minister, and when 
the news of Admiral Dewey's victory at Manila 
reached the United States, he preached a sermon 
about it in his church at Syracuse, New York. 

The boy who goes to the Naval School at An- 
napolis must be ready to work hard with both his 
hands and his brain. The discipline is rigid and 
no favors are shown or allowances made. 

George Dewey was seventeen years old when 
he entered the Academy. He was a strong, active 
boy, and fond of outdoor sports. He was also a 
lad with whom no one could trifle. 

One day one of the cadets called him insulting 
names. George promptly knocked him down. 
Soon afterward another cadet tried to test the 
courage of the ' 'new boy, " but received a worse 
thrashing than the first one had. 

The cadets, however, were a manly set, and 
they admired George for his courage in defending 
his rights. Long before the four years' training 
had expired, George was one of the most popular 
members of his class. It is greatly to his credit, 
that, although study was not naturally easy for 



2 J 2 THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. 



him, yet he graduated as the fifth in his class. 
This, at AnnapoHs, means good honest work. 

George was graduated in 1858, and in order to 
finish his training, went on a two years' cruise to 
the Mediterranean in the JVabash. On his return, 
he visited his old home in Montpelier, and while 
there the war between the Union and the Southern 
Confederacy began. He hurried to Washington, 
where he received his commission as lieutenant. 



IV. — From Lieutenant to Commodore. 

Lieutenant Dewey was ordered to the steam sloop 
Mississippi, one of the Gulf Squadron, of which 
Admiral Farragut was the commander. Though 
but twenty-three years of age, the young lieutenant 
won the admiration of both officers and men. 

When the fleet passed the forts below New Or- 
leans, the Mississippi was the third in the line. All 
through that terrible fight. Lieutenant Dewey stood 
on the bridge, amid the storm of shot and shell. 
Whenever the guns flashed out in the darkness, 
the sailors could see him holding firmly to the rail. 



THE STOR Y OF A DM IRA L DEWEY. 2 11 



giving orders as calmly as though a battle were an 
everyday affair. 

When the Confederate iron-clad, Pensacola, tried 
to ram the Mississippi, Lieutenant Dewey never 
lost his presence of mind. By a quick move, the 
Mississippi avoided the Pensacola, and passing by, 
poured such a broadside into the ram that her 
crew ran her ashore in a sinking condition. Ad- 
miral Farragut praised the young lieutenant v^armly 
for his brave conduct in this battle. 

About a year later the Mississippi, while trying 
to pass the forts at Port Hudson, ran aground. 
The vessel was directly in range of the enemy's 
batteries, and there was no hope of saving her. 
Shot after shot came crashing through her sides. 

The officers who had the task of saving the crew 
did not return to the Mississippi after their trip to 
a place of safety. The rest of the crew were saved 
by Lieutenant Dewey. He was obliged to make 
several trips to the nearest vessel before he had 
placed all of the crew out of danger. 

When no one was left on board but Captain 
Smith and himself, they set fire to the Mississippi 



21 A THE S TOR Y OF A DMtRA L DE WE Y. 



in five places, so that she should not fall into the 
hands of the enemy. 

As Dewey and the captain were about to get into 
their boat, Captain Smith said: ''Are you sure she 
will burn, Dewey? " 

' ' I will take one look more to be sure, " replied 
the brave Heutenant ; and, at the risk of his life, 
he made his way back and saw that the fires they 
had started were making good headway. He then 
rejoined the captain, and they pulled away from 
the burning ship. 

After the loss of the Mississippi, Lieutenant 
Dewey was ordered to one of Admiral Farragut's 
dispatch boats. The admiral often came on board 
and was very friendly to the young lieutenant. 

In 1864, Dewey was assigned to the Colorado as 
first lieutenant. This vessel was part of the fleet 
besieging Fort Fisher. 

During the second attack on the fort, the Colo- 
rado was ordered to go up close to a certain bat- 
tery and silence it. Some of the officers objected, 
as the Colorado was a wooden vessel and had 
already been badly damaged. Lieutenant Dewey 



THE STOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE Y. 2 I C 



said, ' ' We shall be safer in there, and the battery 
can be taken in fifteen minutes. " The attack was 
a success and proved that Dewey was wise as well 
as brave. 

After the battle, Admiral Porter came to thank 
the commander of the Colorado for the work that his 
vessel had done. The commodore replied, "You 
must thank Lieutenant Dewey. It was his move. " 

Three months later he was promoted to the rank 
of lieutenant commander on account of the cour- 
age and ability he had shown. 

After the close of the war, Dewey's father went 
to see Farragut in New York. The famous admi- 
ral shook Dr. Dewey's hand warmly and said, ''Sir! 
Your son George is a worthy and brave officer and 
some day will make his mark." 

In 1884 he was made captain. He did not 
receive the rank of commodore until 1896. 

During all these years, he worked hard and did 
his duty faithfully. When not on the sea, he was 
at work on shore, teaching in the Naval Academy, 
making marine maps, or looking after supplies for 
the vessels. 



2l6 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



Admiral Dewey's sailors are very fond of him, 
for although he is strict he is always just. The 
two things which he especially dislikes are disobe- 
dience and untruth. 

On one occasion, when captain of the Dolphin, 
his lieutenant reported that one of the men had 
refused to perform some task on the plea that it 
was not his work. Captain Dewey came on deck, 
and, looking sternly at the man, said: 

''What! you refuse to do as you are told! 
Don't you know that this is mutiny?" Calling for 
the guard, he ordered them to load their guns. 
''Now, my man," he said, "you have just five 
minutes in which to obey that order." The cap- 
tain began counting the minutes, and by the time 
he had reached four, the order was obeyed. 

At another time, while at Gibraltar, one of his 
sailors who had been ashore, came aboard late at 
night, very drunk. Next morning, he tried to 
excuse himself to the captain by saying that he 
had only had two glasses of grog, but had after- 
wards been sun-struck. 

"You are lying, my man," said Dewey. "You 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE IVEY. ^ J "7 

were very drunk. I expect my men to tell me the 
truth. Had you told me that you were drunk, I 
would have made the punishment as light as pos- 
sible. Now you get ten days in irons for lying. " 

In January, 1898, Commodore Dewey was 
ordered to take command of the Asiatic Squadron 
at Hong Kong, China. 



V. — The American Navy in Cuban Waters. 

While Admiral Dewey had been winning fame 
at Manila, the Navy Department had organized 
two other fleets which were to be used nearer 
home. 

One of these was called the Flying Squadron 
because it was composed of fast cruisers. It was 
stationed at Hampton Roads. From this point, 
it could move quickly either north or south to pro- 
tect the cities on the Atlantic coast in case they 
should be attacked by a Spanish fleet. 

The commander of the Flying Squadron was 
Commodore Winfield Scott Schley, later a rear 



2l8 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE Y. 



admiral. He was an experienced officer. He 
had graduated from Annapolis in time to serve 
all through the Civil War. 

In 1884, he commanded the relief expedition 
which rescued Lieutenant Greely and his explor- 
ing party at Cape Sabine. 
To do this, he had to 
sail through fourteen hun- 
dred miles of ice-covered 
ocean. 

In 1 89 1, he commanded 
the Baltimore, stationed at 
Valparaiso. One day, a 
party of his sailors who 
had gone on shore for pleas- 
ure, were attacked by a mob. Two of them were 
killed and the rest were made prisoners. 

Captain Schley boldly went on shore and 
demanded the release of his men, and a sum of 
money for those who had been killed. As he 
intimated that a refusal would be followed by a 
bombardment from the guns of his vessel, the 
demand was sfrantcd. 




- XI' 



ADMIRAL SCHLEY. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



219 



Such was the man that the government had 
selected to command the Flying Squadron. 

The other fleet was much larger, and was called 
the North Atlantic Squadron. It was composed 
of great battleships, monitors, cruisers, and tor- 
pedo-boats. This squadron 
was to blockade the ports 
of Cuba in order to pre- 
vent any foreign vessel from 
bringing aid to the Spanish 
soldiers. 

This fleet was under the 
command of Captain Wil- 
liam T. Sampson, who was 
also made a rear admiral a 
little later in the war. The government could well 
trust this important duty to Admiral Sampson. 
Graduating from West Point in 1861, he had 
served through the Civil War, and afterward, 
step by step, had won promotion. 

During these years he had seen service in both 
the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and had occupied 
many responsible positions in the Navy Depart- 




ADMIRAL SAMPSON. 



2 2 o ^-^-^ -^ ^^^ y OF A DMIRA L DE WE Y. 



ment on shore. He had also been one of the 
committee that had investigated the loss of the 
battleship Maine. 

All this had prepared him for the great task of 
commanding the North Atlantic Squadron. The 
prudence and judgment with which he performed 
this duty proved that the government had made 
a wise selection. 

The people of America were still rejoicing over 
the victory at Manila, when the news came that 
the Spanish admiral, Cervera, with four of the 
finest cruisers in the world, and three of the latest 
kind of torpedo boat destroyers, had sailed from 
the Canary Islands for the United States. This 
caused some alarm, and wild reports were spread 
as to what these vessels might do. Admiral 
Sampson, with his fleet, was guarding the West 
Indian waters, and Commodore Schley, with his 
Flying Squadron, was waiting at Hampton 
Roads in case Admiral Cervera should sail 
north. If the Spanish admiral could evade these 
fleets, he might bombard the cities on the Atlantic 
coasto 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



221 



VI. — The Cruise of the Oregon. 
In the meanwhile, the greatest anxiety was felt 
for the United States battleship Oregoii. When 
the Maine was destroyed, this vessel was at the 
Mare Island Navy Yard near San Francisco. 
Before war was declared she had been ordered to 




THE OREGON. 



join the squadron of Admiral Sampson as soon as 
possible. 

To do this she must travel through fourteen 
thousand miles of stormy sea, through the danger- 
ous passage around Cape Horn and then up the 
eastern shore of South America. 

On the 14th of March, commanded by Captain 
Clark, she sailed from San Francisco, entering 
the straits of Magellan on the 17th of April. On 



THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L DEWEY. 



the same day that Admiral Dewey reached the 
Phihppines, the Oregon arrived at Rio de Janeiro, 
Brazil. 

Every American was full of anxiety for the 
great battleship. Surely Admiral Cervera would 
arrive in the West Indian waters before the 
Oregon could pass through them. But swiftly 
and steadily the great ship came on. 

Finally, on the 24th of May, the Oregon sighted 
the harbor lights of Key West, and soon reached 
a safe port. The very next day. Captain Clark 
reported her ready for duty. She had steamed 
the length of two oceans and not a valve was 
broken nor a repair needed. 

Much praise is due to Captain Clark for bring- 
ing his vessel such a distance in desperate haste 
in order to help fight the nation's battles. But 
we must not forget that it was the chief engineer, 
Robert W. Milligen, and his seventy men, who 
made this possible. In spite of the terrible heat 
in the engine rooms, these brave fellows worked 
untiringly to keep the great ship moving steadily 
day and night around the continent. 



THE STOR V OF ADMIRAL DE WE Y. 



223 



Meanwhile, on the nth of May, an unfortunate 
affair had occurred in the harbor of Cardenas, on 
the northern coast of Cuba. Three of the Ameri- 
can vessels blockading this harbor had been 
ordered to ex- 
plore the bay. 
Suddenly the 
Spanish bat- 
teries on the 
shore opened 
fire. The tor- 
pedo boat 
Whislow, be- 
ing nearest 
the shore, re- 
ceived most 
of the enemy's 
shells. Al- 
though brave- 




returnmg 



MAP OF HARBOR OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA. 



ly 

the fire, the little boat was soon disabled. Five 
men were wounded, and Ensign Worth Bagley 
and four other men were killed. These were 



_ _ . THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE V. 



the first Americans to lose their hves in this 
war. 

On the following day, the Americans heard that 
the Spanish fleet had arrived at Martinique, a 
small French Island near the coast of Ven- 
ezuela. This being known. Commodore Schley 
sailed from Hampton Roads for the West In- 
dies. 

On the 19th of May, Admiral Cervera sailed 
into the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, on the south- 
ern coast of Cuba, and was there several days 
before the Americans found it out. Commodore 
Schley hastened at once to the mouth of the har- 
bor so as to cut off all hope of escape for the 
Spanish admiral. Admiral Sampson soon arrived 
with the main squadron, and the entire fleet kept 
watch, frequently bombarding the. forts at the 
harbor's mouth. 

The Americans did not attempt to pass into 
the harbor, as the entrance was strongly pro- 
tected by torpedoes ; so they waited for a land 
force to arrive, and attack the enemy from the 
rear. 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



22S 



He had a plan which 
said: 



VII. — Lieutenant Hobson and the Merrimac. 

Soon after Admiral Sampson arrived off San- 
tiago, there came to him a young lieutenant, 
Richmond Pearson Hobson. 
he wished to propose. He 

''There is the collier 
Merrimac. Let a volun- 
teer crew just large enough 
to navigate her be selected. 
Then, after stripping the 
old ship of everything val- 
uable, let this crew run 
her, after dark, into the 
narrowest part of the chan- 
nel leading to the harbor; 
and there let them sink her 
by exploding torpedoes under her. In this way 
we can block the harbor so that Admiral Cerveia 
cannot in any way bring out his fleet. " 

He explained that the crew of the Merrimac 
would jump overboard as she sank, and, if pos- 
sible, be picked up by a torpedo-boat or a steam 
launch, which should be stationed near-by for that 




LlEUTENANr HOBSON. 



226 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



purpose. Lieutenant Hobson himself, bravely 
offered to lead this expedition. 

Admiral Sampson determined to carry out this 
plan, and called for a single volunteer from each 
ship. In spite of the danger of the undertaking, 
almost the entire crew of each vessel, not only 
offered to go, but begged to be accepted. Fi- 
nally, eight men were chosen, with Lieutenant 
Hobson as their leader. At half-past two o'clock 
in the morning of June 3d, the Merri7nac was 
headed straight for the channel. Lieutenant 
Hobson stood on the bridge dressed in full 
uniform. The other men were at their posts 
dressed in tights, ready to swim a long distance, 
if necessary. 

The crew of the steam launch, which was fol- 
lowing closely behind, saw the Afem'imac swing 
across the channel and then heard the explosions. 
At the same time, the air was filled with the 
flash and roar of the guns of the Spanish forts and 
ships. 

In the face of all this fire, and without even a 
cry of distress to guide them, the crew of the 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. 2 2 7 



launch began their search for the heroes of the 
Merrimac, never giving it up until daylight. 
Then, seeing nothing but the tops of the masts of 
the collier, they returned to the admiral's flagship. 

Of what had happened to his men in the mean- 
time, Lieutenant Hobson himself told afterward: 

' 'When the boat began to sink, and the Spanish 
shot to fall about us, I told the men to he flat on 
the deck. It was due to their splendid disciphne, 
that we were not kiUed. The minutes seemed 
hours, but I said that we must lie there until day- 
light. Now and then one of the men would say, 
' Hadn't we better drop off now, sir?' But I said, 
' Wait until daylight. ' I hoped that by that time 
we might be recognized and saved. 

"The old Merrimac kept sinking. It was splen- 
did the way the men behaved. The fire from the 
batteries and ships was dreadful. As the water 
came up on the decks, we caught hold of the edges 
of the raft which was tied to the boom, and hung 
on, our heads only being above water. 

"A Spanish launch then came toward the Mer- 
riinac. As she drew near, the men saw us, and a 



228 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



half-dozen marines pointed their rifles at our heads. 
'Is there any officer in that boat to receive a sur- 
render of prisoners of war?' I shouted. An old 
man leaned out of the launch and waved his 
hand. It was Admiral Cervera. The marines 




THE MORRO CASTLE, COMMANDING THE ENTRANCE OF THE HARBOR OF 
SANTIAGO DE CUBA. 



lowered their rifles and we were helped into the 
launch." 

A few hours later, a boat bearing a flag of truce 
came out to the American fleet. It was from Ad- 
miral Cervera, and brought the message that 
Lieutenant Hobson and his men were held as 



THE STOR Y OF ADMIRAL DE WE Y. 2 2 



prisoners, and that they were well, only two of 
them being slightly wounded. 

Much honor is due to Lieutenant Hobson for 
this brave deed. But we must not forget that the 
lives of the crew were saved through the kindness 
and nobility of Admiral Cervera. Not every com- 
mander would so honor his brave prisoners, and 
his action has been much appreciated in America. 

The sinking of the Merrimac did not obstruct the 
channel completely. The steering gear was broken 
by some of the Spanish shot, and Lieutenant Hob- 
son was not able to place the vessel exactly where 
he had intended. However, it would be a dan- 
gerous undertaking for the Spanish admiral to pass 
out of the harbor at night. 

Admiral Sampson sent word to the War Depart- 
ment, that, if an army were sent to assist him on 
land, they could take the city of Santiago, together 
with the fleet of Admiral Cervera in the harbor. 
Accordingly General Shafter, with a large army, 
landed near Santiago and began to drive the 
Spaniards back into the city. 

Desperate battles were fought at Siboney, El 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



Caney, and San Juan, but the Americans steadily 
drove the enemy inside the fortifications of San- 
tiago. During these attacks, the fleets helped the 
army by throwing shells into the city. 




VIII. — The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet. 
On Sunday morning, July 3d, the American ships 
were lying quietly outside the harbor of Santiago. 

They were stretched in a 
line from Commodore 
Schley's flagship, the 
Brooklyn, seven miles east- 
vv^ard, where Admiral Samp- 
son had gone with his flag- 
ship New York, in order to 
confer with General Shafter. 
From the forts on the 
shore, the great ships 
looked like mere specks upon the horizon ; and it 
was hard to realize that they were grim sentinels 
watching every movement of the Spaniards. 

The ' ' bright work " had all been cleaned and 




ADMIRAL CERVERA. 



THE STOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE Y. 2\\ 



the men were at Sunday services, when suddenly a 
thin fihxi of smoke was observed to rise behind the 
hills. The scene on the battleships was changed 
at once into one of greatest activity. 

''The enemy is coming out!" was signaled in 
red, white, and blue from vessel to vessel, and on 
each deck rang out the command, ''All hands clear 
ship for action ! " 

There was no confusion or noise, and every man 
was at his post. Powder magazines were opened, 
and shot and shell were being hoisted to the decks. 
The engineers stood waiting for the first command 
with every rod and wheel of the great machinery 
ready to move. 

Meanwhile the film of smoke had become a thick 
cloud, and the Americans knew that soon the Span- 
ish vessels would appear. Suddenly the flagship 
of the Spanish admiral was seen speeding out of 
the narrow channel. She passed the wreck of the 
Merriniac, and with the spray dashing high over 
her bows, started westward along the coast. 

Close behind her came another vessel, and then 
another, until the six Spanish ships were all rush- 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEIVEY. 



ing wildly for the open sea. At full speed, the 
Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa, and Oregon bore down upon 
the Spanish ships. The Oregon gained headway 
so rapidly that she passed the Texas and the lozua, 
and came in behind the Brooklyn. 

Away to the right between the battleships and 
the shore, sped the little yacht Gloucester. Her 
captain, Lieutenant Richard Wainwright, had been 
an officer on the Maine when that vessel was blown 
up in Havana harbor, and so was, perhaps, most 
anxious of all for a chance at the Spanish. 

He sent the 6^/6'?/r^i-/^r straight towards the Span- 
ish torpedo boats, Plnton and Furor, He did not 
seem to mind the fact that his little yacht was no 
match for them, and that his decks were covered 
with Spanish shell. Although aided to some extent 
by the large vessels, the destruction of the two 
torpedo boats was due to Lieutenant Wainwright. 
He never paused in his deadly fire until both of 
them had surrendered. It was not long, however, 
until the Spanish shots began to fall about the other 
American ships, throwing up great columns of 
water. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WEY. 2 XX 



The B^'ooklyn was the first to reach the Spanish 
ships and open fire. The Oregon hastened to 
assist Commodore Schley. When the Americans 
saw that not only the O^^egon, but the Texas and 
Iowa were gaining on the Spanish, they were wild 
with excitement. The stokers in the engine rooms 
poured in the coal, and the steam rose higher and 
higher. 

At half-past ten the battle was at its height. 
Great clouds of smoke settled over the water, and 
the roar of the guns echoed back from the Santiago 
hills. Now and then anxious inquiry passed from 
one Amierican crew to another; but the answer, 
''All right! " always came back through the din of 
battle. 

One by one the Spanish guns became silent, 
and by eleven o'clock all save one of the ene- 
my's ships had been driven ashore, and destroyed. 
The Cristobal Colon made a desperate dash for 
freedom, and was not overtaken until she had gone 
fifty miles west of Santiago. Then she surren- 
dered, having been forced ashore. 

After the battle was over the Americans bravely 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DE WE V. 



went to the rescue of the Spanish sailors. They 
cHmbed the ladders and went into the burning 
ships, where magazines were likely to explode at 
any moment. They lifted the wounded men from 
the hot decks and took them out of the stifling 
smoke to their own vessels. Their boats picked 
up the Spaniards who were struggling in the water 
or trying to climb up on the shore. 

The Spanish loss on that Sunday was about 
three hundred killed and one hundred and fifty 
wounded, while nearly a thousand men were taken 
prisoners by the Americans. The Spanish vessels 
were all complete wrecks. There was but one 
American killed and one wounded. 

Admiral Cervera was a brave man. He took his 
fleet out of the Santiago harbor against his own 
judgment, because he had been ordered to do so 
by the Spanish government at Madrid. 

Everything was against him. Many of his 
officers had been given their commissions because 
their families were rich and powerful in Spain. 
The sailors had not entered the navy from choice, 
but had been forced to do so by the government. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE Y. 2 -2 C 



Many of them had been kidnapped from their 
homes, or from the wharves of seaport towns, and 
forced on board. They were ill treated and poorly 
paid. On the morning of the battle at Santiago 
they were threatened with pistols before they would 
go out to meet the Americans. 

On the other hand, every man in the American 
fleet had been thoroughly trained for the work that 
he had to do, and was fighting for a country which 
he loved better than life itself. He felt that it was 
an honor to serve in the navy, and knew that 
many of his countrymen would be glad to be in his 
place. 

Now let us see what has become of Lieutenant 
Hobson and his men. During all this time they 
had been held as prisoners in Santiago. Three 
days after the destruction of the Spanish fleet, 
arrangements were made to exchange them for 
some Spanish prisoners. This exchange was 
made between the Spanish and American hues 
near Santiago. 

When the formalities were over and Hobson 
and his men approached the first American line, all 



236 



THE S TOR YOFA DM IRA L DE WE V. 



the men cheered wildly and crowded one upon 
another for a chance to shake hands with the 
heroes. Lieutenant Hobson was the hero of the 
hour. He alone was calm, and he modestly said 
that any other man would have done the same 
thing in his place. 



IX. — The End of the War. 

After the loss of Admiral Cervera's fleet, every 
one knew that it would be only a question of time 
until the city of Santiago must surrender. The 
American army under General Miles and General 
Shafter surrounded the city on the land, while the 
navy guarded the harbor. The Spaniards could 
not escape, nor could any help reach them. 

The next two weeks were spent in trying to fix 
upon terms of surrender that would be acceptable 
to both sides. The only fighting was a short bom- 
bardment of the city by the warships on the loth 
of July. 

At last on July 17th the city surrendered. The 
Spaniards agreed to give up not only Santiago but 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. ^ - ^ 



also all the cities and forts east of that place, with 
all the soldiers and military supplies. The Amer- 
icans agreed to send all these soldiers, numbering 
about 22,000 men, back to Spain, and pay for their 
transportation. 

After this surrender. General Miles with an army 
on transport ships sailed for the island of Porto 
Rico, which is about four hundred miles from Cuba. 
As usual, the navy went along to protect the un- 
armed vessels and to help the army make a 
landing. 

The first fighting was on the southern coast, near 
the city of Ponce, in the harbor of Guanica. 
Lieutenant Wainwright, with his little ship the 
Glo2icester, sailed boldly into the harbor and drove 
the Spaniards from the shore. The Americans 
were then landed without the loss of a single 
man. 

The army was divided into three divisions, and 
all set out for the city of San Juan upon the 
northern coast. They drove the Spaniards before 
them, taking possession of the towns and cities as 
they advanced. 



238 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



General Miles and his soldiers were everywhere 
welcomed gladly, for the people of this island did 
not like the Spanish soldiers any better than did 
the Cubans. 

By the 26th of July, the people of Spain had 
begun to realize that it was useless to carry on the 
war any longer. Accordingly, word was sent to 
President McKinley, by the French ambassador 
at Washington, M. Jules Cambon, that the Spanish 
government was ready to consider terms of peace. 

President McKinley and his cabinet at once 
drew up a paper called a protocol, which stated 
what the Spanish must do before the war could 
be ended. 

Spain was to give up all claim to Cuba, recall 
her officials and soldiers, and permit the people 
of the island to choose their own government. 
Porto Rico and all the Spanish islands in the 
West Indies were to be given to the United 
States. Spain was also to allow the Americans 
to hold the city of Manila until it should be 
decided, by a regular treaty, what should be done 
with the Philippine Islands. Five men from each 



THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE Y. 2 -; Q 



country should be appointed to draw up the 
treaty, and in the meantime, as soon as Spain 
and the United States should sign the protocol, 
all fighting should cease, 

Spain was glad to get peace, even on these 
terms, and the protocol was duly signed by both 
governments on the 12 th of Aug^ust. Word was 
at once sent to the armies and navies to cease 
fighting. 

It was very easy to reach the American forces 
in Cuba and Porto Rico, but before the message 
could reach Admiral Dewey at Manila, it must be 
telegraphed to Hong Kong, China, and then sent 
by a dispatch boat to Manila. During the sum- 
mer vessel after vessel had sailed from San Fran- 
cisco, carrying the army of General Merritt to 
assist Admiral Dewey. War vessels and ammu- 
nition had also been sent. 

On the 13th of August, not having heard that 
peace had been declared. General Merritt ordered 
a combined attack of the army and navy to be 
made upon Manila. The vessels opened fire upon 
the Spanish fortifications which protected the 



^ Q THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. 



town, while the troops of General Merritt drove 
the Spaniards back into the city. After two hours 
of sharp fighting the city surrendered. 

The Americans did not lose a single sailor, and 
only twelve soldiers were killed and forty wounded. 
The Spanish loss was much greater. In the after- 
noon the stars and stripes were hoisted over the 
government building and the Spanish soldiers 
marched out of the city and laid down their arms. 

Thus with a brilliant victory, Admiral Dewey 
closed the war as he had opened it. 

After the signing of the protocol Admiral Samp- 
son and Commodore Schley sailed to New York 
with most of their squadrons to repair what little 
damage had been done. When they arrived on 
the 20th of August the city gave them a royal 
welcome. It was arranged that the warships 
should steam through the harbor and up the Hud- 
son River as far as General Grant's tomb. Thus 
every one could see and greet the naval heroes. 
The people turned out by the tens of thousands 
and lined the shores cheering and waving flags. 
The harbor and river were filled with pleasure 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE IV E Y. 2 A I 



boats adorned with flags and streamers, while 
cannon on the shore thundered salutes. 

In all history there is not an instance of such 
great victories with so small a loss of men and 
ships as in this war with Spain. In less than three 
months the United States had driven the Spanish 
power from the western hemisphere. It had 
added new possessions in both hemispheres and 
had shown that it was entitled to rank with the 
most powerful nations of the earth. 

As soon as the people of the United States felt 
that peace was assured they held great jubilees in 
Chicago and Philadelphia. Triumphal arches 
were erected under which marched the heroes of 
the war, cheered to the echo by their fellow 
citizens. 

Several new battleships more powerful than 
any that had taken part in the recent splendid 
victories were launched, with imposing ceremonies, 
at Newport News, Virginia. 

From all this it would seem that the people of 
the United States at last realized that at all times, 
whether in peace or war, the country should have 



2^2 ^^^ -^ '^'^^ Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. 



a powerful navy. This navy should be in keeping 
with the position that the United States has won 
among the nations of the world, and worthy of 
the brave officers and sailors who spend their lives 
in its service. 



X. — Life on an American Man-of-War. 

When a battleship is hurling shot and shell at 
an enemy, the brave deeds of the officers and 
men on board are told from one end of the land 
to the other; but how many people know how these 
men live from day to day, when the great ship is 
lying in the harbor, or cruising peacefully about 
the seas? 

Who makes the lieutenant's bed and buys his 
food? Most people think that the government 
provides all that he needs; but this is not so. He 
must carry his own bed linen to sea with him and 
arrange for his own food. 

The officers choose one of their number to buy 
the provisions, and he must give good meals at 
one dollar a day for each man. At the end of 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE V. ^ . ^ 

^4o 



the month, every officer pays this amount out of 
his salary. 

The first meal of the day is always eggs, and is 
served at any time from 7:30 until 8:30 in the 
morning. If ever a naval officer invites you to 
breakfast, he does not expect you to come to this 
meal. He calls a twelve o'clock luncheon break- 
fast, and will give you a substantial meal at that 
time. Dinner is served at 6 or 6:30, and, on the 
flagship, is accompanied by the band. 

The ward-room boys who wait upon the officers 
are almost all Japanese. Because their names are 
so hard to pronounce, every one is called "Wil- 
liam. " When the big ship is hurling shot and shell 
in time of battle, where is William ? In the pantry 
washing dishes? No, indeed. 

Somebody must be down in the magazine put- 
ting the powder on the hoists which carry it up to 
the guns. This is William's work. In time of 
fire, it is he who holds the nozzle of the hose, or 
who brings hammocks to smother the flames. 

Now ' ' Jacky, " as the sailor man is called, does 
not provide his food or his bed-linen. His bed is 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE V. 
244 



a hammock, and it is a very different one from 
those we swing on our porches in summer. It is 
made of canvas, with ropes in the ends. He has 
a mattress and a blanket in his bed, and he always 
keeps them there. 

At five o'clock in the morning the bugle calls, and 
Jacky has six minutes in which to scramble out of 
his bed and get into his clothes. Then he must 
roll up his hammock and stow it away. Jacky 
then has some hard tack and coffee before he goes 
to work. 

From half-past five until six he does his laundry 
work. He wears white suits and must wash them 
himself ; untidiness is never excused. The clothes 
are then hung so as to be dry for the inspection 
drill which will come at half-past nine. 

Then for one hour, the ship is scrubbed. Water 
pours over the decks in streams. Every nook and 
cranny is numbered, and each man has his own 
number to keep clean. 

By half-past seven there is nothing cleaner on 
land or sea. The ship shines from prow to stern, 
and the decks are clean enough to eat from. 



THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE \. ^ .m 



Every piece of metal is polished until it glitters 
in the sunlight. 

When this is finished, Jacky has his breakfast. 
The government allows thirty cents a day for the 
rations of each sailor. The paymaster serves out 
food enough to last several days or sometimes a 
week, and if the cook does not make this last the 
crew must go hungry. 

The sailors are divided into ' ' messes, " each 
mess having its own cook who is under the direc- 
tion of the general ship's cook. Jacky has no 
table-cloth or napkins. He washes his own tin 
plate, cup, knife, fork, and spoon, when he has 
finished his hasty meal. 

At eight o'clock, he is dressed for the day, and 
the colors go up. From then until six o'clock in 
the evening he is busy with different drills and 
duties about the ship. In the evening, from six 
until eight o'clock, Jacky has an easy time. It is 
then that he takes his ease, smoking his pipe and 
singing his songs. 

At nine o'clock ''taps" are sounded, and once 
more he rolls up in his hammock for the night. 



246 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMiRA L DE IV E Y. 



Saturday is mending day, and every man must 
do his own work. Some of the men make their 
own clothes, although there is a tailor on board. 
In the ship's crew there are also barbers, shoe- 
makers, and printers. 

On Sunday morning, the captain goes about the 
ship and gravely inspects the men, and it is then 
that each one tries to look his best. Then they 
must all attend religious services, after which they 
rest most of the day. 

The marines on a ship-of-war are men about 
whom most people know nothing. A marine is 
not a sailor. He is a soldier who does duty on a 
warship. He is a kind of policeman, and sees 
that Jacky behaves himself. He wears a soldier's 
uniform and has soldier's drills. 

The marines have their own mess and their 
own sleeping space, forming a community of their 
own. 

Perhaps some boys and girls may think that the 
captain and his officers have a much easier time 
than Jacky or the marines. This is not so. 
In the first place, they had many studies to 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 2/17 

master before they could be officers. They had 
to earn a great deal about mathematics, mechan- 
ical and electrical engineering, navigation, gun- 
nery, and international law. And then these 
studies are never ended; the progress that is made 
in them, each year all over the world, must be 
known by each officer. 

The officers are responsible for the lives of the 
crew and the safety of the ship. They must be 
ready to think and act quickly in emergen- 
cies. In hours of peril they never leave their 
posts. 



XL — Some Facts about the Navy of 1898. 

The Constitution of the United States provides 
that the President shall be commander-in-chief 
not only of the army but also of the navy. His 
chief assistant in the management of naval affairs 
is the Secretary of the Navy, who is also a mem- 
ber of his cabinet. 

In 1898 the Navy Department of the United 



248 



THE STORY OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. 



States was just one hundred years old, having 
been organized in 1798 with Benjamin Stoddert as 
Secretary. 

The work of the department is divided among 
eight bureaus, as follows: 

1 . The Bureau of Yards and Docks, which is in- 
trusted with the construction and maintenance of 
docks and wharves, and with all civil engineering 
work in the navy yards. 

2. The Bureau of Navigation, which superin- 
tends the education of officers and men, controls 
the enlistment of men and apprentices, and directs 
the movements of ships and fleets. 

3. The Bureau of Equipment, which attends to 
the manufacture of ropes, anchors, cables, and 
other articles required for the equipment of naval 
vessels, purchases coal for their use, and controls 
the Naval Observatory. 

4. The Bureau of Ordnance, which has charge 
of the manufacture of guns and ammunition, also 
of torpedo stations and magazines. 

5. The Bureau of Construction and Repair, 
which is charged with the building and repair of 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DEWEY. ^ .^ 



small boats and of the hulls of ships, and attends 
to the purchase of turrets and armor. 

6. The Bureau of Steam Engineering, which 
directs the building and repairing of machinery in 
any way connected with the ships. 

7. The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, which 
designs, erects, and maintains naval hospitals 
and superintends their management. 

8. The Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, which 
is responsible for the purchase and supply of all 
provisions and stores, and of the accounts relating 
to the same. 

Each of these bureaus is presided over by an 
officer of skill and experience, who, while he holds 
the office, has the rank of commodore. 

The United States has navy yards at Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire; Boston, Massachusetts; 
Brooklyn, New York; League Island, Pennsyl- 
vania; Norfolk, Virginia; Washington, District of 
Columbia; and Mare Island, California. At these 
navy yards ships are overhauled and repaired, 
machinery is adjusted and renewed, and stores 
of all kinds are provided. Here, too, on the 



- THE STOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE Y. 



receiving ships, the recruits are received and in- 
structed. 

There are naval stations at Newport, Rhode 
Island; New London, Connecticut; Port Royal, 
South Carolina; Key West and Pensacola, Florida; 
and Puget Sound, Washington. 

At Indian Head, Maryland, is the naval prov- 
ing-ground for the test of armor and guns. 

The Naval Observatory is at Washington, and 
was at first merely a depot for naval charts and 
instruments. 

In 1898, the highest officer in the American 
navy was the rear admiral. The other officers in 
their order, ranking downward, were commodores, 
captains, commanders, lieutenant commanders, 
lieutenants, lieutenants junior grade, and ensigns. 
All these are known as officers of the line. 

At the close of the year there were seven rear 
admirals, ten commodores, forty-one captains, and 
eighty-five commanders. 

The rank of rear admiral is equal to that of 
major general in the army. A commodore is equal 
to a brigadier general; a captain in the navy ranks 



THE S TOR Y OF A DM IRA L DE WE Y. 2 C 7 



with a colonel in the army; a commander ranks 
with a lieutenant colonel; and a lieutenant in the 
navy is equal to a captain in the army. 

The law provides that when an officer reaches 
the age of sixty-two years he must be retired from 
active service. One who has been disabled in the 
service, or who has served honorably for forty 
years and requests release, may also be retired. 
Officers on the retired list receive three-fourths as 
much pay as when on active duty at sea. 

Rear Admiral Dewey will be retired on the 26th 
of December, 1899. In 1898 there were thirty- 
three rear admirals on the retired lists. 

The officers while at sea receive more pay than 
when on shore duty. The salary of an ensign at 
sea is #1200 a year; that of a rear admiral is 
16,000. The salaries of the other officers range 
between these two extremes. 

Previous to 1898 the number of enlisted men in 
the navy was limited to ten thousand. These men 
are received for a period of three years ; and any 
one after serving continuously for twenty years may 
be assigned to duty in the navy yards, or on board 



- 2 ^^^ STORY OF A DM IRA L DE WE Y. 



receiving ships, or to other duties not requiring 
them to go far from home. All who have served 
thirty years are entitled to admittance in the Naval 
Home. The wages of enlisted men vary from $i6 
to 170 a month, according to the kind of work they 
perform. 

The law provides that seven hundred and fifty 
boys may be enlisted as apprentices in the navy. 
These are received only with the consent of their 
parents or guardians, and are required to serve 
until they are twenty-one years old. 

Besides the regular navy of the United States 
there is a naval militia organized in eighteen states. 
This militia is under the general direction of the 
Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and its duty in 
time of war is to man the vessels designed for coast 
and harbor defense. 

At the beginning of the year 1898 there were 
more than four thousand men and officers in the 
naval militia. During the war with Spain, most of 
these were mustered into the naval service and did 
duty on the war vessels or in the signal service 
along the coast. 



THE S TOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE IV E Y. _ ^ 



At the close of the year there were belonging to 
our government nine battleships, all of which had 
been built since 1890. Four others were in process 
of construction. The average cost of vessels of 
this class is about $3,500,000. 

Of other vessels in the navy of 1898, there were 
two armored cruisers which cost 12,986,000 each; 
one ram, the Katahdin; six double turreted mon- 
itors; thirteen single turreted monitors; seventeen 
protected cruisers; four unarmored cruisers; fifteen 
gunboats ; and ten torpedo boats. Many other 
vessels of different classes were being built. 

All these were in active service, or soon to be so. 
But there were also several other vessels of the 
old-fashioned style which, although of little use in 
battle, were valuable in the various peaceful enter- 
prises in which the navy is always engaged. Of 
such there were six old iron vessels and ten wooden 
frigates, all propelled by steam, and seventeen old 
wooden sailing vessels, some of which were used as 
receiving ships. 

During the war with Spain, many temporary 
additions were made to the navy. Eleven mer- 



THE STOR Y OF A DMIRA L DE WE Y. 
254 

chant vessels were bought or leased and converted 
into auxiliary cruisers. Among these were the 
four fast steamers of the American line, the St. 
Lotus, the ,5^/. Paul, the Yale, and the Harvard. 

Twenty-eight yachts also were purchased and 
turned into auxiliary gunboats or torpedo boats. 
Among these was the Gloucester, which did such 
fine work during the destruction of Cervera's fleet. 
It had formerly been a pleasure yacht belonging to 
Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan of New York. 

In addition to the vessels just named, the gov- 
ernment also bought twenty-seven tugs to be 
changed into gunboats or cruisers ; and it obtained 
seventeen steam vessels of various sizes to be used 
as transports and for many other purposes. 

Altogether the navy of 1898 comprised an impos- 
ing collection of vessels of many kinds and of 
various degrees of efficiency. Of the work which 
it accomplished we have already learned. 



a/ayette^ 



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^S# INDIANA 4696^ 




